Daniel Suárez on baby watch entering Bristol Night Race: ‘It’s coming very soon’

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Daniel Suárez is on baby watch heading into Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Still, the driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet said he plans to compete in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race (7:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), Race 3 of The Chase presented by Mobil 1. "It's coming, and it's coming very soon," Suárez said Friday afternoon. "I think last night, for the first time, we actually had like a little 'oh [expletive]' moment, so yeah, I mean (wife) Julia is already at home right now, and she's doing amazing. I feel like I'm way more nervous than her." MORE: Starting lineup | At-track photos: Bristol Night Race Suárez is competing in The Chase this year but enters last in the 16-driver points standings, 119 points back of Denny Hamlin for the championship lead after two races. With eight races remaining, including Saturday's showdown, Suárez remains intent on competing in the 500-lap contest. But Spire Motorsports still has NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series veteran Justin Allgaier on standby in case Suárez needs to exit the race. "Honestly, the points situation. I mean, I think there is still a lot to fight for," Suárez said. "We have 20% of The Chase in only, so there is a lot to fight for. I believe that my team is capable of running to finish the championship in the top 10, top eight maybe. So that's where my mind is. But with that being said, Justin Allgaier already sat in my car, making sure that he fits OK. I mean, who knows what is going to happen? But hopefully it doesn't come to that." Suárez added that their due date was originally set for Thursday, Sept. 17, "so right now we are actually in the real window. It can actually happen at any time." Team owner Jeff Dickerson has also offered travel assistance, dating back to last weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, allowing Suárez to fly to the track Saturday instead of coming out Friday and giving the expectant father an extra day at home. Suárez is intent on racing at Bristol on Saturday, though. Much of that stems from his competitive nature. Some of it comes from listening to the universe. "I'm gonna race because listen, especially here in Bristol, the window is -- if I miss the baby, I'm with Julia 90 percent of the time. So if I miss the baby, it's the baby trying to tell me something," Suárez laughed. "Who knows when it's going to happen? But I'm going back home here in a little bit (Friday night) and hopefully everything goes smooth. Hopefully the baby doesn't come until Sunday or Monday. I think it's going to come very soon. So hopefully, it's not (Saturday)." Suárez is typically cool under pressure and doesn't get rattled. But the prospect of becoming a father at a moment's notice has certainly challenged that usual disposition. "I'm not an anxious person. I'm very chill," Suárez said. "People that know me will tell you that I don't get very nervous. I just go do my thing, and I'm very cold. And if I'm in the car, I focus only on the car, and I don't get distracted. But this is the one thing that actually has had my mind on it quite a bit. I guess something is changing."