The 2023 season was one to forget for Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez. He ended the season winless, missed out on playoffs, and was among the most inconsistent drivers on the grid. His teammate Ross Chastain‘s winning twice and part-time teammate Shane van Gisbergen winning the Chicago Street race put more limelight on his poor season.
To redeem himself and set positive momentum from the start of the season, Trackhouse decided to replace his crew chief Travis Mack. Justin Marks hired Matt Swiderski from Kaulig Racing to lead the No:99 Chevy Camaro ZL1 team to success in the 2024 season. It was a complicated decision for Suarez.
While discussing the decision during NASCAR Production Day, Saurez admitted that the 2023 season was bad for him and the team. Mack wasn’t ousted because he or the team wanted to, but it was part of a necessary rebuild they desperately needed to get back to winning ways in the upcoming season.
The reason for the change, it’s a little bit complicated. It wasn’t because one person decided to make a change, or because I wanted to make a change. I will say that nobody was really happy with the way we performed last year…The team got together and they decided that we needed to make a change, we didn’t know where to start, and they felt the need to make a change. It was quite difficult, to be honest. Suarez told Fox Sports.
LA Clash will be a great opportunity for Daniel Suarez and his crew chief to start strong
The duo will have their first race together at the LA Colosseum this Sunday. Suarez sees it as the right opportunity for him and Matt Swiderski to work on communication ahead of the season opener Daytona 500 on February 18h.
The Clash comes at a good time because it gives us a chance to work together at a racetrack before we go to Daytona. I think success boils down to communication, so I am looking forward to getting going in Los Angeles this weekend.
Suarez has to deliver in 2024 to keep his place in the team this year. If he fails, one of the two drivers on the Trackhouse development contract, Zane Smith and Shan van Gisbergen, will probably replace him in 2025.
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