Daniel Suarez
In this July 7, 2020 photo provided by NASCAR, Rajah Caruth competes in the Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The sport has renewed optimism that its diversity program can field a bumper crop of promising prospects. Caruth might the one who can help lead the way. (NASCAR photo via (AP)
NASCAR banks on minority drivers to broaden sport's exposure

By Dan Gelston Jul. 28, 2020 02:06 AM EDT

FILE - In this June 22, 2020, file photo, team owner Richard Petty, right, stands next to driver Bubba Wallace during the national anthem prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. NASCAR is ready to embrace all genders, ethnicities and backgrounds as moves ahead in its push for racial diversity. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
'Yes we exist' - Black fans eye NASCAR's work to diversify

By Dan Gelston Jul. 17, 2020 02:20 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks before the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday n Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR’s layered relationship with Trump took a sharp turn Monday, July 6, 2020, when Trump blasted the series for banning the Confederate flag and wrongly accused the sport’s only full-time Black driver of perpetrating “a hoax” when a crew member found a noose in the team garage stall.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Trump sideswipes NASCAR, Wallace over flag and noose

By Jill Colvin And Jenna Fryer Jul. 06, 2020 10:09 AM EDT

NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace is consoled by team owner Richard Petty, right, prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., Monday, June 22, 2020. In an extraordinary act of solidarity with Wallace, NASCAR's only Black driver, dozens of drivers pushed his car to the front of the field before Monday's race. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Column: NASCAR rallies around Wallace in poignant moment

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 23, 2020 04:43 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2020, file photo, William Byron celebrates after winning the second of the two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Byron won his second consecutive NASCAR virtual race Sunday, April 19, 2020, by holding off Timmy Hill — the driver who moved him out of the way to win an earlier iRacing event — in a race finally low on dramatics. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Byron wins 2nd NASCAR virtual race in a drama-free event

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 19, 2020 03:40 PM EDT

William Byron leans against his car during activities before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Byron wins virtual Bristol; Bubba 'rage quits' early in race

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 05, 2020 04:16 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, Denny Hamlin, left, leads the pack at the start of the NASCAR Cup Series championship auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, in Homestead, Fla. NASCAR and IndyCar have each called off their races this weekend. NASCAR was scheduled to run Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway without spectators but said Friday, March 13, 2020, it is calling off this weekend and next week’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. IndyCar was scheduled to open its season Sunday on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, but suspended it’s season through the end of April. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Timmy Hill virtual winner of NASCAR's live iRacing event

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 29, 2020 03:37 PM EDT

Daniel Suarez (96) and Ryan Blaney wreck as they come out of Turn 4 during the first of two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)
Suarez wrecks in qualifier, fails to land Daytona 500 spot

By Mark Long Feb. 13, 2020 10:21 PM EST

William Byron celebrates after winning the second of the two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Logano, Byron win Daytona 500 qualifying races

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 13, 2020 09:32 PM EST

Cole Custer waits in his garage as crew members work on his car during a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Bell, Reddick, Custer headline bumper crop of NASCAR rookies

By Dan Gelston Feb. 13, 2020 02:26 PM EST

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. walks along pit road before NASCAR auto race qualifying at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Stenhouse wins Daytona 500 pole in debut with new team

By Mark Long Feb. 09, 2020 01:44 PM EST

Daniel Suarez gets NASCAR ride 2 weeks before Daytona 500

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 28, 2020 06:16 PM EST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Daniel Suarez landed a job two weeks before the NASCAR season begins when Gaunt Brothers Racing signed the Mexican driver for the No. 96...

Team owner Tony Stewart takes questions during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race press conference Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Tony Stewart is set to become a NASCAR Hall of Famer. But adding another championship might mean even more. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Fire burns for Stewart as he chases another NASCAR title

By Dan Gelston Nov. 15, 2019 04:31 PM EST

Tyler Reddick (2) and Cole Custer (00) head into the front stretch during the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Randy Holt)
Bell, Custer, Reddick go for Xfinity title before Cup jump

By Mark Long Nov. 15, 2019 02:30 PM EST

Cole Custer talks to the media before a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race practice on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Suarez ousted at Stewart-Haas for Cole Custer promotion

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 15, 2019 11:47 AM EST

Driver Martin Truex Jr., front right, gives autographs to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at ISM Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix

Nov. 10, 2019 01:12 PM EST

Kevin Harvick (4) leads the field for the start of a NASCAR auto race at Texas Motor Speedway, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Larry Papke)
Harvick has Cup title shot after 3rd straight Texas fall win

By Stephen Hawkins Nov. 03, 2019 07:22 PM EST

Kurt Busch, left, and team owner Chip Ganassi, right, celebrate after announcing a multi-year contract for Busch with Ganassi racing during a NASCAR news conference at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
NASCAR Cup Series at Texas

Nov. 02, 2019 05:51 PM EDT

Chase Elliott talks with a crew member in the garage at Martinsville Speedway In Martinsville, Va., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. Elliott had an engine failure less than five minutes into the opening practice for the third round of NASCAR's playoffs. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville

Oct. 26, 2019 12:10 PM EDT

Matt DiBenedetto (95), Landon Cassill (00), Joey Logano (22) and Parker Kligerman (96) take the green flag during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
The Latest: Hamlin wins chaotic NASCAR elimination race

Oct. 20, 2019 03:47 PM EDT