NASCAR has a history of making an example of those who interfere, and after a fan disrupted Daniel Suarez’s interview at Daytona, they won’t hesitate to do it again. Just ask the 14 spectators who were permanently banned after the 2007 Talladega race for throwing beer cans onto the track.

“Hopefully, whoever this particular gentleman is, there’s a part of me that hopes he does the right thing and makes a phone call and turns himself in, and you know, lets people know who he is,” she suggested. “That may end up a lot better in his world if he does that versus having a viral video and never owning up that you were that guy,” noted Amanda Ellis from the NASCAR communication team as advice for the mystery man.

Following Sunday’s Great American Race, what should have been a routine post-interview turned into an awkward viral moment. Daniel Suarez, fresh off a 13th-place finish in his debut with the No. 7 Spire Motorsports, was doing a live interview on pit road with FOX at the 2.5-mile Super Speedway. That is exactly when the fan with the pit road pass made a decision he’s probably regretting right about now.

Mid-interview, the fan leaned into the live microphone, stared into the camera, shouted, “47, 47, baby,” and even tapped the Mexican driver on his shoulder, all while the broadcast was rolling. In NASCAR terms, that’s a double violation, for interrupting a live televised interview and putting hands on a driver in a restricted, high-security area.

Pit road access, especially at the biggest race of the season, comes with serious boundaries, and this fan clearly stepped over them. NASCAR’s Communications Director, Mike Forde, made it clear the sanctioning body isn’t brushing it off.

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“Our security team is aware. Tom Bryant is aware and is working with the security team, and if we do find out who this person is, it’s certainly not going to end well for this particular person,” said Mike Forde on the Hauler Talk podcast.

“99% of the time [people with passes and access don’t abuse it]. That everyone is there to have a good time. And then for someone to do this is really disappointing. We’re looking into it; TBD if we’re able to find out who this person is, but certainly an unfortunate incident that we are taking seriously and looking into,” he added.

Moreover, the fans have been rallying behind NASCAR to ban this fan from attending future races. And despite the incident, NASCAR, known for giving fans closer access to stars than most major American sports, has not announced any changes to its chilling process ahead of this week’s race at Echopark Speedway.

For now, the message is clear: enjoy the access, respect the boundaries, and maybe don’t grab the driver mid-interview. However, the 33-year-old driver seems to be unfazed by the incident, having faith in NASCAR’s hunt. However, the one thing Suarez has mixed feelings about is leaving his ex-team.

Daniel Suarez addresses his departure from Trackhouse

Daniel Suarez did not make a dramatic exit from Trackhouse Racing. There was no public fallout and no visible bitterness. But once the new season began, he found himself in a different garage; the change in demeanor was hard to miss.

Since stepping away from Justin Mark’s operation, Suarez has sounded like a driver who has reflected, recalibrated, and accepted that some chapters simply run their course, even if not every feeling has fully faded.

Before the Daytona 500, he was careful to acknowledge what Trackhouse meant to him. He described it as an amazing organization and expressed gratitude for the victories and shared effort. Then he addressed the separation plainly, especially after the run-in with his ex-teammate, Shane van Gisbergen.

“Things change. Companies change. People change. It’s part of life,” he said. “And the Trackhouse of today is not the same Trackhouse of two or three years ago. And that’s OK. It’s just that things change. And it just wasn’t the best place for me anymore. That was the sad part. Leaving actually was a relief, but that was the sad part. When I was seeing those things, I didn’t want to see them, if that makes sense.”

The shift he described has been building. Even though both of his cup wins came with the organization, uncertainty over his role and long-term future lingered across the past two seasons, quietly complicating his focus.

Now at Spire Motorsports, a 13th-place finish to open the year may not rewrite the narrative overnight, but it offers something different: stability, clarity, and a chance to move forward without looking over his shoulder