“Everything that she say, she’s right,” said Daniel Suarez when addressing his wife, Julia Piquet’s criticism of Trackhouse Racing. It was just another instance of the couple showing their love for each other, on and off the track. And that’s what their journey together has been like, a story of support, like when they got married in Brazil. “That was at the top of our list for both me and Daniel. It’s a really unique opportunity to have everyone together in one place at one time. So, we’re really cherishing this moment that we have all our family together,” she said after their wedding. Now, the Mexican driver is showing his support for his wife once again as she takes part in a long NASCAR tradition.

While NASCAR’s superstars usually command the spotlight on race weekends, there is one tradition that flips the script entirely. Once a year, it’s the partners of these drivers’ wives, girlfriends, and women closely tied to the sport who take the wheel and race for glory in the Better Half Dash. It’s part fun, part fundraiser, and every bit of it is as competitive as the sport itself.

Now celebrating 15 years, the Better Half Dash is more than just a preseason virtual showdown. It brings together competitors, showing the community behind the sport’s biggest stars and raising money for meaningful causes like Motor Racing Outreach, which started as a playful charity event and has now grown into a beloved NASCAR tradition with karting battles just as thrilling as what fans see on Sunday tracks. 

The 2025 addition saw a competitive grid of familiar faces, including Kristen Labonte, wife of Bobby Labonte; Hayley Dillon, wife of Ty Dillon; and Taylor Dibenedetto, wife of Matt Dibenedetto, among others, all racing identical go-karts for bragging rights and a charitable cause.

The event, which has been running for 15 years, is beloved for its mix of lighthearted fun and real competition. This year, Julia Piquet emerged as a standout performer, and as the daughter of three-time Formula One champion Nelson Piquet, it was a no-brainer, especially after she showed off her smooth line overtakes to claim the win. 

Suarez was beaming with pride after seeing his wife’s victory and celebrated it with a heartfelt post on social media. “She did it!!! BHD Winner!!” he wrote on X! However, the race wasn’t without its own tension. Things got a little heated between Julia and Ariana Jencik, Parker Retzlaff‘s partner, who finished up third. The race saw some aggressive wheel-to-wheel racing. In her defense, Piquet says, “I was trying to be a good sportsman, telling her good race, and she didn’t like the way I drove her. But I drive people the way they drive me—you push me wide; I’m going to push you wide. I think it’s fair game.”

She added, “It’s awesome. Project Street Vet, they do an incredible job helping the dogs out in the streets, making sure that they’re healthy. I’m so happy and honoured to be able to support them.” Piquet added her own X post to the mix, captioning it, “Winner winner chicken dinner!!! BIG thank you to @QuakerState and @FollowMRO for all your support. Amazing event and won $5000 for Project Street Vet.” 

Her victory earned her $5000 for Project Street Vet, a charity that is focused on providing medical care for homeless street pets. When asked about her chosen charity, she said, “It’s awesome. Project Street Vet, they do an incredible job helping the dogs out in the streets, making sure that they’re healthy. I’m so happy and honoured to be able to support them.”

While Julia Piquet celebrates her victory, her husband, Daniel Suarez, has been navigating a very difficult 2025.

Daniel Suarez is in hot water

Daniel Suarez enters 2025 after a strong season in 2024. With a memorable finish at Atlanta and a second-round playoff run, he is expected to further build on that success in 2025. However, it’s been quite an uneven start to the season. With the No. 99 car finishing outside the top 30 more times (4) than it has been inside the top 10 (3), Suarez faces trouble. 

Currently sitting 27th in the standings with 209 points, Suarez is yet to secure a win this season. His best finish came at Las Vegas, where he very impressively climbed from a 23rd starting position to finish second, leading 12 laps in the process. However, the standout performance has been overshadowed by a series of less favorable results overall. With only one top five and three top 10 finishes, he currently averages 20.9 finishes in starting races.

Suarez has openly and publicly acknowledged the team’s struggles, saying, “We still need speed; we don’t have speed. It’s not a secret. We are not where we need to be yet.”

The No. 99 Driver has emphasized the urgency to improve, adding, “We can’t afford to be running like this for very long.” At Phoenix, Suarez was running sixth before being collected by a spinning back marker, resulting in a 23rd-place finish. Other subsequent races saw finishes of 21st at Martinsville, 15th at Darlington, and a very disappointing 33rd at Bristol, where he struggled with grip and speed throughout the race. As the season progresses, both Suarez and track house racing face mounting pressure to find solutions and regain competitive form.