GOLDSBORO, N.C. – Driving a stock car and flying a fighter jet are more similar than one would think. Race car drivers and pilots both wear helmets, travel at fast speeds and battle G-forces while executing at a high level.
Thursday at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suárez and crew chief Ryan Sparks experienced it for themselves.
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Wrapping Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Mission 600 in the lead-up to next Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, Prime Video, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the first-year Spire Motorsports driver/crew chief pairing immersed themselves in the United States Air Force, learning every aspect behind the fighter jets that defend the skies on behalf of the country.
Suárez had flown with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds many years ago during Daytona Speedweeks, but on Thursday, he learned the ins and outs of what it takes to fly at an elite degree.
“These guys, they’re extremely good in what they do,” Suárez told NASCAR.com. “I had an opportunity to fly with the Thunderbirds a handful of years back, and that day, I gained a ton of respect for what these guys do because it’s not easy. The Gs, the forces, the way that these guys have to train to be able to do these kinds of things, normal — it’s not normal, but they make it look so normal. So it’s very spectacular, and it was a lot of fun to get to hang out with these men and women for a few hours.”
The day started with a hands-on tour of the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, guided in part by Kyle “Moonshine” Williams, a die-hard NASCAR fan who had recently returned to North Carolina from overseas deployment. He explained that the F-15 travels up to Mach 2.5, north of 1,800 mph, before later bringing over a racing-themed helmet and poster for Suárez to sign.
Suárez and Sparks inspected nearly every inch of the nearly 64-foot-long aircraft and met with crew chiefs who, similarly, set up and analyze the planes like Sparks does to the No. 7 Chevrolet. They then climbed aboard, with Suárez sitting in the front seat and Sparks in the back.
They unanimously agreed that it was their favorite part of the day.
“I love working on cars, all cars especially, so I feel like it’s, in a way, the same thing just way more complicated,” Suárez said. “To be able to see a lot of the mechanics, the interior, the cockpit and everything to learn more about how they repair it, how they operate it and what kind of usage they give to this kind of aircraft.”
After visiting the hangar, Suárez and Sparks traveled to the F-15 4th Training Squadron, where they tested their skills in F-35 and F-22 simulators with a virtual reality twist. Instructors fitted them with VR headsets before playing a series of real-life, 360-degree videos to give the closest feeling of flying with the Air Force. They then tested their own luck behind the joysticks, attempting to take off and land the jets.
During lunch at the Southern Eagle Dining Facility, Airmen gave the duo physiotherapy training, explaining that F-15s at full speed can reach up to nine Gs of force (nine times the force of gravity). A member of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) later brought a remote-controlled robot — designed after video game controllers — used to disarm bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Both Suárez and Sparks flawlessly extricated a fake grenade from the dining room floor.
Finally, they visited a lounge area where eager Airmen — many of whom were NASCAR fans — met Suárez for autographs and photos while exchanging stories. The Monterrey, Mexico, native explained to them that after coming to the United States in 2011, he became a citizen in 2024 – a story that Sparks hadn’t heard from Suárez until Thursday.
“He’s had a long journey himself of how he got to where he is now, and just to see how he comes and relates to the people here, and working with him, and how he communicated with [the Airmen] — he just does such a good job,” Sparks told NASCAR.com. “I love just the way he treats people and how he relates to all these military members.
“He’s a character. It’s been a lot of fun along the way, but the more I learn about him, the more I like him as well.”
And even though Suárez is just two years as an American citizen, it’s an honor he doesn’t take lightly.
“I’m extremely proud to be a U.S. citizen,” he said. “It’s spectacular, honestly. What they do, the amount of people, the amount of building, the amount of training, the amount of equipment that they all have is amazing. To be able to live in this country and support in a small way all these men and women that are serving our country is the least that we can do.”
Suárez and Sparks are off to a strong start together through 12 races, ranking 14th in the Cup Series standings ahead of Sunday’s non-points-paying All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway (1 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). With the car already on its way to the 1-mile Delaware facility, Sparks had a rare free Thursday to tag along and further develop that driver/crew chief relationship as the duo searches for a spot in The Chase come September.
Sparks acknowledged the importance of next Sunday’s 400-lap marathon with an extra stage paying 10 more points than usual, plus the allure of competing for the crown jewel. But paying his respects to the military and those who defend the United States takes precedence.
“To sit down and think about what these people are fighting for, that we’re able to [race] each and every Sunday is surreal, really,” Sparks said. “It’s unbelievable that people are willing to sacrifice it all, so that hits home, and it’s a really special and fun event to be a part of, and I hear it’s going to be a big crowd, so pretty excited to get there and hopefully put on a show.”
And as Suárez battles for his first crown-jewel win, he’ll have plenty of folks from Monterrey rooting him on.
“I invite a lot of friends and family from Mexico that weekend every single year, so for me, it’s a very special weekend, probably the most special weekend of racing of the year for me,” he said. “The race itself is amazing. It’s unbelievable. But it also means more than just a race.”