Daniel Suarez and Corey LaJoie had a heated post-race discussion as they signed autographs after the NASCAR race on the Charlotte Roval
On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series unloaded in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 17-turn Roval road course brought drama in the Playoff elimination event.
Watch the Daniel Suarez vs Corey LaJoie video below.
With 47 to go, Daniel Suarez suffered a major steering rack issue. His entire race began to unravel in a hurry.
“I’m just trying to get the fuck out of the way. My engine is getting hot and I’m losing the steering, I don’t want to wreck him,” Suarez said over the radio speaking of Corey LaJoie.
With no power steering, Suarez was dropping through the field. A road course is the last possible track a driver wants to lose power steering.
The team jumped on the radio, “Dig deep here. There’s nothing we can really do right now.”
At the time, Suarez sat above the playoff cutline. But, he was losing positions right and left.
Suarez added laps later, “I don’t have steering man, at all. Get a plan, if we get a caution I have to come in and fix this thing. Ahhhh!”
With 27 laps to go, Suarez pitted under the green flag. The crew lifted the hood to add power steering fluid in an attempt to make the situation better.
With 17 to go, Suarez pitted yet again. The crew lifted the hood once again to add more fluid and attempt repairs.
NASCAR to review incident with Cole Custer after Roval
Corey LaJoie vs Daniel Suarez
After running, 30+ laps without power steering on a road course, Suarez had arms of jelly. His car skated all over the track as he sawed the wheel, fighting for control.
With 13 to go, Corey LaJoie looked inside of Daniel Suarez into turn 15. As they jumped on the brakes, Suarez swerved to the right and hooked LaJoie in the left rear.
LaJoie went spinning through the infield grass.
With 12 to go, LaJoie caught the bumper of Suarez into turn one. He drove it deep into the corner, shoved Suarez into the corner and the wall. It was a clear retaliation but LaJoie was likely unaware Suarez was having major issues inside his car.
Daniel Suarez and Corey LaJoie talk after the race
After the race, Suarez and LaJoie climbed from their machines. The two drivers found each other on their walk to the garage area.
They entered into a clearly aggravated conversation. As they talked it out, young fans walked up to Suarez looking for autographs. In the middle of the discussion, Suarez grabbed his pen and signed memorabilia.
Suarez dropped the pen then turned back to LaJoie. He walked up to LaJoie and shared a few more words as he stuck his finger in LaJoie’s chest.
After driving nearly half the race, on a road course, without power steering it’s fairly amazing Suarez could lift his arms to the chest of LaJoie.
Ryan Blaney crashes Daniel Suarez after the finish at Indianapolis (August 2022)
Daniel Suarez on Christopher Bell, “I’m going to get him back.” (September 2022)
Daniel Suarez comments after the Charlotte Roval
“Once the steering started going away, it was very unfortunate,” Suarez told Bob Pockrass after the race.
“Hopefully we can find the issue. It’s a shame that we lose this round because of a mechanical issue.”
“If there were a lot of cars out there with the same issue, I would say, ‘it’s a crappy part’ like many others drivers have been saying in the past.”
“But, as of right now, I think I was the only one with that issue. It was pretty much impossible to drive the car.”
“Once the engine gets hotter, the rack that we cool, gets hotter. Then, the seals break and all the fluid goes out,” Suarez added to NBC.
“The No. 7, he wasn’t driving very smart today. He was blocking me and doing all kinds of things. I could have wrecked him like two-three times.”
“I’m the only driver in the field that could have finished that race. My arms are completely destroyed. I have never felt like this in my life.”
“There was more than a couple times, I was just screaming. I just needed to get it out. It was for sure the most difficult race I’ve had in my life.”
Suarez started the final stage many points above the cutline. Yet, he was eliminated from the playoffs after the checkered at the Roval.
“It’s sad, I felt like it was going to be an easy transfer, being a road course. Unfortunately, we had an issue.”
Daniel Suarez vs Corey LaJoie (Video)
Charlotte Race Results: October 9, 2022 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Links
Daniel Suarez | Corey LaJoie | Charlotte Motor Speedway | NASCAR
