In NASCAR, the unyielding competition is not only on the track, but tensions between drivers can run thick in day-to-day life. Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez were not only teammates but more than that. Their trajectories were so closely intertwined that they have memories of how much of a small difference there is in terms of their body weights! Such a bond is an anomaly in a sport that emphasizes the individual, but it set the tone for their time together.

Their careers have mirrored each other in many ways, both built on patience and bursts of success after long periods of repetition. Both men know the joy of winning races and the struggle of trying to make a breakthrough in a hyper-competitive field. And then there are others, gentler strokes, that illuminate the human element of racing that often gets lost in the roar of engines and flickering checkered flags.

A Partnership Built on Shared Drive and Discipline

Ross Chastain reflects on his time with Daniel Suarez and reveals a partnership rooted in more than just racing. “It’s been incredible. It’s been four years together. My entire time at Trackhouse and once we moved into the Concord building, it was him and I. And he’s the most like-minded person outside of the car, of the teammates I’ve ever had, “Chastain said, emphasizing how closely their approaches to preparation and fitness aligned.

Their commitment extended beyond the track: “We put the time in the gym. We’re twenty pounds apart, so we’ve just always been up and down on the scale throughout the year. And in the gym, like weights-wise, like available effort in the gym, we were like lined up with the same. So we were there in the morning, there in the afternoon, and we just had a… we just had a sauna the day that he found out… And we had like a great conversation with this that morning.” This routine of mutual discipline underscored the depth of their connection, one that Chastain says is rare among teammates.

When asked about their fond memories, Chastain’s recollection of their shared victories is particularly important. “Both of us winning, seeing his excitement for me at COTA, and then me for him in Sonoma… just seeing that come full circle for both of us. Like, we both have had long… I’d say longish careers, but with limited success. And then he’s obviously got an Xfinity Series championship and looks incredible. Just seeing all that payoff with tough win, just can’t get over our first wins. And we’re there for each other.”

For Ross Chastain, the end of this partnership is more than a professional transition. It’s a moment to reflect on how far both drivers have come, and how their parallel journeys have shaped not just their careers, but their outlook on what it means to compete and to support one another at the highest level.

Drafting Together: How Teammate Chemistry Shapes NASCAR Wins

It’s not unprecedented in its intensity, the dynamic between Daniel Chastain and Suarez, but it is in its duration and significance. Other drivers and insiders have noted how such personal relationships can help mold a team’s culture and a driver’s career. For cup drivers, the experience of having a fast teammate who pushes you to be a better racer has also been expressed by veteran racer Kevin Harvick, “When you’ve got someone in your corner who’s feeling the same stuff, it does make the grind a little easier. You’re feeding off of each other’s energy, and that’s going to be the difference between having a good season and a great season.”

Chase Elliott has shared how life experiences off the course can mean better communication and a mutual respect between teammates on the race day: “You see how much work your partner is doing, whether it is at the gym or in the simulator, and that pushes you. Yet it also means you trust their feedback more, because you know they’re as invested as you are.” Together, the two fostered a relationship that went beyond just sharing a race car, based on respect and a willingness to challenge each other.

But as Suarez starts a new chapter and Chastain adjusts to life without his best buddy at Trackhouse, the memories from that time together won’t soon fade. In a sport that is always changing and success always fleeting, the full-circle moment Chastain describes is a reminder that the journey, and the people you share it with, often matter just as much as the checkered flag.