After replacing Carson Hocevar on lap 11 of the DoorDash 250 on Saturday night (June 11), Daniel Suarez came back from two laps down to finish sixth at Sonoma Raceway.
“The team did a very good job,” Suarez told FOX Sports 1. “I’m thankful I was able to help.
Hocevar had broken the tibia in his right leg after a wreck on the last lap in the Camping World Truck Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway the week before. He was seen walking around the garage on crutches at times and hopping around on one foot at others before the Sonoma race, but still managed to climb behind the wheel of the Niece Motorsports No. 42.
Suarez and Hocevar split time practicing the truck before the latter qualified it on the pole. But Hocevar wrecked the truck after claiming the top spot on the board, and the team had to go to a backup truck for the race, forfeiting the top starting spot.
Hocevar worked his way up into the top 25, but on lap 11, he came to pit road and yielded his seat to Suarez.
“It’s part of the process,” Hocevar told FOX Sports 1. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do the full race, and this is what the team and everybody thought was smartest, and I’ve got smarter people around me.”
Suarez noted the difficulty in getting in a truck that was prepared for a different driver, as he initially had issues with the shifter in practice.
“It’s tough to be 100% comfortable when I’m jumping in someone else’s truck,” Suarez said. “The only thing I had of mine was my steering wheel.”
Because Hocevar started the race, he received all of the points for Suarez’ finish. However, had Suarez won the race or either of the first two stages, Hocevar would not have received a guaranteed playoff spot or any playoff points.
Due to the driver change occurring under green flag conditions, the No. 42 truck went two laps down.
“It was busy, man, it was very busy,” Suarez said. “I was…
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