Former teammate-turned-rival Suarez sends a blunt SVG warning
Suarez and van Gisbergen, once teammates at Trackhouse Racing in 2025, found themselves on opposing sides this year after Suarez joined Spire Motorsports, replacing Connor Zilisch. During a chaotic 200-lap race, the New Zealander, known as SVG, made a bold statement about his former teammate's driving.
"It's the third time the #7 got me for nothing," SVG said under caution, speaking to his team over the radio. "I guess he's excited he's not my teammate anymore and can hit me now."
In another radio exchange, Suarez responded, "Tell the #97 I'm coming for him."
Van Gisbergen later inquired if Suarez was "beefing" with anyone else. Suarez's aggressive performance in his first outing with Spire was evident as he finished fourth in the #7 Chevrolet Camaro.
Post-race, Suarez downplayed an incident with 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace but expressed dissatisfaction with van Gisbergen's actions. "I race people the same way they race me," Suarez began. "I'm not racist; I love everyone. If they give me love, I give them love. If they give me hate, I give hate. That's the way it works."
Suarez clarified, "We know where the line is. [Van Gisbergen] did a couple of things I didn't like, and I pushed him back. But he did it more than I did. It's part of racing."
Suarez's frustration was evident as he mentioned the hard feelings among team members after the race. When asked about the on-track skirmishes, Suarez assured that he would move on quickly, "I don't have a problem with him. It's just the way he races."
Van Gisbergen's lead in a small section of the race was cut short when Chase Briscoe spun him out of second place. Despite the setback, SVG described the race as "a good bit of fun" with moments of brilliance and challenges. He attributed the wet weather conditions to the difficulty in finding grip, a stark contrast to his Supercars racing experience.
Suarez labeled the race as "crazier than I would like," highlighting the chaos and pushing among competitors. He praised the team's performance, stating, "It was a lot of fun. The dry first half and the wet second half. I enjoyed it a lot. It was definitely chaotic, especially up front."
Despite the intense competition, Suarez expressed pride in the team's performance, "Overall, a good start for our team. I'm very proud of this group." For the latest NASCAR news and coverage, visit Speedcafe US.
