CONCORD, N.C. — As Daniel Suarez went to answer the opening question of his media availability on Saturday afternoon, he had to pause. Goosebumps had risen on his arm as he prepared to discuss the impact that Kyle Busch made on his life.
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This impact is one that very few people knew of, but it still resonated with Suarez two days after Busch's surprising death at the age of 41. After all, Busch is the man who helped him become a NASCAR champion.
"For someone coming from a different country, sometimes, you don't know many people," Suarez said in response to a question from FanBuzz. "The least you expect is to get that much support from a legend like him."
As Suarez explained, his connection with Busch began as he rose through the racing ranks in 2014. He didn't have anyone in the United States to help him learn as he moved from the NASCAR Mexico Series to the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
He did not have an uncle, grandfather, or brother in this part of North America who could provide advice as he adapted to new tracks, new cars, and a different language.
Someone at Joe Gibbs Racing knew of this situation, so they suggested that Suarez reach out to Busch. He did so, which set the foundation for a recurring conversation.
Daniel Suarez shared a story on social media about weekly conversations with Kyle Busch in 2015.
He provided more details this afternoon. He also said that he texted Kyle on Thursday morning, saying that he hoped he got better. pic.twitter.com/WpoV5G3fRB— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) May 23, 2026
"I reached out to him, literally, every single week in 2015," Suarez said. "And he took the time to answer every single one of my questions, he was giving me advice."
NASCAR was markedly different back in 2015. The O'Reilly Series teams didn't have access to SMT or data. They had to go off of feel while figuring out where to make improvements behind the wheel.
Busch, who continued to recover from multiple lower body injuries, addressed this by telling Suarez about how to approach the different on-track sessions. He told him the lines to find during practice, qualifying, and the race.
"A lot of people don't know that," Suarez said. "Most people view Kyle as a villain, right, as a guy that the fans either love him or hate him.
"But he had a huge heart, right, and he was one of those drivers, people that was always willing to give you a hand."
The work and the weekly conversations paid off for Suarez, who ended his rookie season fifth in the championship standings. He didn't win a race in 2015, but he had 18 top-10 finishes in 33 races.
He made even more progress in 2016. He won his first career race at Michigan International Speedway. Busch finished second. Suarez then added wins at Dover Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway, the latter of which closed out a championship-winning season.
How did Busch respond to this first win at Michigan? He congratulated Suarez, but he also jokingly told him that he had to stop helping.
Suarez has since risen to the Cup Series. He has won two Cup Series races. But he has never forgotten the role that Busch played in his life and career.
"It was very meaningful to me because, like I said, I didn't have anyone to ask for help," Suarez said. "I didn't have anyone to ask for support.
"And to get the support of someone like him — because in 2015, he was already a legend. He was already winning everything. To me, it just meant a lot."
This relationship did not end, even as the drivers ended up at different teams. They remained friends, they spent extensive time at the track together, and they partied together in Mexico City.
Suarez even sent Busch a text message on Thursday morning when he heard that his fellow driver had been hospitalized with a severe illness. He wished Busch well and expressed hope that he would be back at the track soon.
"Obviously, he never really answered that one," Suarez said. "So, just still a little bit shocking."
