Motorsports
Who Is NASCAR Driver Daniel Suárez’s Wife? All About Julia Piquet
NEED TO KNOW Daniel Suárez and Julia Piquet star on season 2 of Netflix’s Full Speed. Suárez and Piquet met through Piquet’s brother, Nelson Piquet Jr. They married in July 2024 after four years of dating. Love took the checkered flag for Daniel Suárez and Julia Piquet. The NASCAR driver and his wife — who […]

NEED TO KNOW
- Daniel Suárez and Julia Piquet star on season 2 of Netflix’s Full Speed.
- Suárez and Piquet met through Piquet’s brother, Nelson Piquet Jr.
- They married in July 2024 after four years of dating.
Love took the checkered flag for Daniel Suárez and Julia Piquet.
The NASCAR driver and his wife — who star on season 2 of Netflix’s Full Speed docuseries — met in 2012, while Suárez was visiting Piquet’s brother, fellow driver Nelson Piquet Jr., in Charlotte, N.C. But their relationship didn’t rev up until years later.
During an interview with NASCAR in 2025, Suárez recalled, “When Julia and I met, I didn’t speak English and she didn’t speak Spanish, so we couldn’t communicate.”
They eventually reconnected when Suárez was driving at the Race of Champions in Mexico City. The pair officially started dating in 2019, and went on to wed in the bride’s hometown of Brasilia, Brazil, in 2024. Following their wedding, Piquet told PEOPLE, “We’ll stay strong as a couple, grow together and move forward in life.”
Online, Suárez has described his wife as his “best friend” and the love of his life. Similarly, Piquet has praised her husband in sweet posts. Days after their nuptials, she wrote on Instagram, “I’m so proud of you as a person, as a driver, and as an incredible ambassador for this sport that we both love so much!”
So who is Daniel Suárez’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Julia Piquet and her relationship with the NASCAR star.
Piquet is the daughter of a former Formula 1 driver
Julia Piquet/Instagram
Piquet’s parents are F1 world champion Nelson Piquet and Sylvia Tamsma. Her father, a former F1 Grand Prix racing driver from Brazil, won three World Championships in 1981, 1983 and 1987, and was inducted into the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Hall of Fame in 2017, per the organization.
“I’ve always had a strong character, which I think comes from my Dad,” she told Fast and Fearless in 2018. “It’s allowed me to never back down from what I believe in and never be afraid to give my opinion.”
The day before Piquet’s birth, her father crashed his 1992 Lola-Buick during practice for the Indy500, per UPI. In 2023, Piquet shared photos and footage from her dad’s accident on Instagram, saying that she’s “deeply grateful dad survived this one, or I never would have had the chance to meet my hero.”
Piquet’s brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., is former F1 driver and current stock car racing driver.
Piquet was a racing correspondent
Sean Gardner/Getty
Piquet previously served as a correspondent for Motorsport Network. In her role, she interviewed her father, her brother, Juan Pablo Montoya, Pipo Derani and more.
Months before she and Suárez started dating, Piquet spoke to her future husband at the 2019 Race of Champions in Mexico.
Sharing an image from that interview years later, Piquet wrote, “I love you and our story .”
Piquet and Suárez started dating in 2019
Julia Piquet/Instagram
After first meeting in 2012, Piquet and Suárez officially began dating in March 2019. Suárez celebrated five years with Piquet in 2024 by posting a photo of the couple.
“Today is my 5th anniversary with this pinche bombón!! So fortunate to have you on this journey with me. Te amo. ,” Suárez captioned the snap.
Piquet marked their fifth anniversary by sharing their first photo together — a picture of the duo at a restaurant.
Alongside the throwback, she wrote, “Happy 5 year anniversary to the man who still opens the door for me every single time, my soon to be hubby Here is the first pic we ever took together
.”
They got engaged in 2022
Julia Piquet/Instagram
The NASCAR driver proposed to Piquet in Monaco in November 2022.
In a video of the engagement, Suárez and Piquet can be seen standing next to a rocky outcropping. When Suárez pulled out the engagement ring, Piquet burst into tears.
“Let’s stay young forever together ,” Piquet captioned the clip.
Piquet and Suárez married in 2024
Celso Junior
The couple’s wedding took place in Brazil on July 30, 2024, PEOPLE exclusively confirmed. The two took advantage of NASCAR’s two-week summer break thanks to the 2024 Olympics, getting married on a Tuesday.
“Being able to get married in my hometown of Brasilia, where I lived for four years during high school, is very special,” the bride told PEOPLE, adding that the Brazilian capital is where her father and much of her family lives. “It’s a place that I love. So, it really was a no brainer.”
Piquet and Suárez’s ceremony featured green and white decorations with hints of light pink, which were designed to match the scenic gardens and foliage surrounding the venue at Recanto das Aguas.
They “didn’t really have a very specific vision or plan for the wedding” apart from bringing their families together, Piquet said.
“That was at the top of our list for both me and Daniel,” she said. “It’s a really unique opportunity to have everyone together in one place at one time. So, we’re really cherishing this moment that we have all our family together.”
She is an integrative nutrition health coach
Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Piquet is a certified integrative nutrition health coach, having earned her certificate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in February 2023.
“All it takes is one thought, one idea, and one step at a time #certifiedhealthcoach,” she wrote on her coaching Instagram after obtaining her certificate.
Piquet was inspired to start her health journey in 2020 after sharing her struggle with binge eating disorder.
She enjoys celebrating Suárez’s different accomplishments
Chris Graythen/Getty
Over the years, Piquet has posted photos of herself with Suárez at various races, including his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Sonoma Raceway in 2022.
“My heart!!!! I have seen you in the lowest of lows and am privileged to see you in the highest of highs!” she wrote on Instagram. “You are the most deserving winner out there! Hard work pays off and you are the hardest working person I know
NASCAR CUP WINNER
First Mexican winner in the cup series!!!!!”
Piquet was also with Suárez the day he became a United States citizen in 2024. She congratulated the Mexican-born driver on taking his Oath of Allegiance with a post on Instagram.
“Proud is an understatement,” she wrote. “You are so deserving Let’s still eat tacos tho k?”
Motorsports
Nitro Motorsports Heads to Lime Rock Park with Eight-Driver Lineup
May 21, 2025 May 21, 2025 – After an action-packed weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Nitro Motorsports is ready to regroup and reload as the Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli heads east to Lime Rock Park for the next round of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series championship. With a powerful eight-driver roster, including a pair of NASCAR ladder series drivers, […]

May 21, 2025
May 21, 2025 – After an action-packed weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Nitro Motorsports is ready to regroup and reload as the Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli heads east to Lime Rock Park for the next round of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series championship. With a powerful eight-driver roster, including a pair of NASCAR ladder series drivers, the North Carolina-based outfit looks to return to the top step of the podium on the historic Connecticut circuit in the Memorial Day weekend event.
Racing out of the Nitro Motorsports stable at Lime Rock will be:
- Corey Heim
- Thomas Annunziata
- Sam Corry
- Boris Said Jr.
- Gian Buffomante
- Julian DaCosta
- Cale Phillips
- Thad Moffitt
“We’ve got a deep lineup of talent heading into Lime Rock, and I’m excited to see what we can do as a team,” expressed Nick Tucker, Team Owner of Nitro Motorsports. “After a tough end to a promising weekend at Laguna Seca, everyone is fired up and ready to fight back.”
Last time out, Gian Buffomante turned heads by charging from 21st on the grid to finish third, earning his first career Trans Am podium and the Basset Hard Charger of the Race Award in the process. Boris Said Jr. showed his consistency as well, finishing fourth in class after penalties reshuffled the final order. Meanwhile, early front-runners Thomas Annunziata, the current TA2 championship point leader, and Sam Corry showed winning pace with Annunziata, a two-time race winner this season, looking to rebound after a disappointing event.
Julian DaCosta and Cale Phillips will pilot Nitro Motorsports machines at Lime Rock Park this weekend as they look for their best results of the season, as a pair of new names will join them in the series in 2025. Coming from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series, Corey Heim and Thad Moffitt will race for Nitro Motorsports this weekend.
“We welcome Corey and Thad to our program this weekend as they have a slight break in their NASCAR schedules and can join us,” Tucker continued. “We’ve shown speed at every track this year. Now the goal is to put it all together—and get back to our dominating ways. With eight talented drivers in the paddock, I have no doubt we’ll be right in the mix this weekend.”
Set to hit the track on Friday for three test sessions, Saturday will be the home of qualifying and race one. Tune in LIVE all weekend long at GoTransAm.com.
For more information on Nitro Motorsports, please visit them online or contact Nick Tucker via email HERE or visit them online at www.RaceNitro.com.
Motorsports
Rwanda: What’s Attracting Celebrities to Motorsport?
For a long time, motorsport has drawn the rich and famous from around the world. Rock stars, models, celebrities, and even world leaders have been spotted at Formula One (F1) races and other high-power rally events, and Rwanda is steadily catching up with this global trend. In 2022, Miss Rwanda 2017 third runner-up, Queen Kalimpinya, […]

For a long time, motorsport has drawn the rich and famous from around the world. Rock stars, models, celebrities, and even world leaders have been spotted at Formula One (F1) races and other high-power rally events, and Rwanda is steadily catching up with this global trend.
In 2022, Miss Rwanda 2017 third runner-up, Queen Kalimpinya, made history by becoming the first Rwandan woman to compete in the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally since its inception in 2002.
Her trailblazing move was soon followed by renowned radio personality Sandrine Isheja Butera, who boldly entered the world of rally driving in 2024.
Now, other big names like DJ Anita Pendo and rapper Ish Kevin, along with a growing number of Rwandan actors, broadcasters, and musicians, are developing a serious passion for the speed game. But what exactly is drawing this celebrity attention?
Family tradition
For rising rapper Ish Kevin, who was the most recent celebrity to step into rally driving, motorsport is a family affair.
He participated in the recent “Sprint Rally GMT” in Musha in Rwamagana District alongside his older brother Jacques Hakizimana. Their father Genese Semana, put family aside as he turned from parent to rival and competed against them during the GMT rally.
ALSO READ: Family tradition: Ish Kevin ventures into rally driving
“Personally, I drew my passion for racing from my family. My father and uncle hold several accolades in Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Rally, which is a legacy I want to keep alive,” Ish Kevin told The New Times.
With guidance from his uncle, Ish Kevin says he’s determined to elevate Rwanda’s motorsport scene and hopes to inspire more creatives, artists, musicians, and entertainers to join the sport, which offers considerable exposure and opportunities.
This family legacy approach isn’t unique to Rwanda. In Kenya, for example, motorsport also runs deep in several families. One notable case is the Gatimu family of Caroline Gatimu and Tinashe Gatimu, known for their mother-daughter rally racing duo.
Passion and exposure
For Kalimpinya, anything mechanical has always sparked her curiosity.
ALSO READ: Kalimpinya commends ‘growing presence’ of women in Rwandan motorsport
“It started in my neighborhood, where I rode a bicycle from a very young age, and later spent about six years riding motorbikes. That passion for machines naturally evolved into a love for cars,” Kalimpinya said.
Her entry into motorsports came when a racing driver noticed her enthusiasm and introduced her to rallying. She began as a co-driver, and through that experience, her love for the sport blossomed. Eventually, she took the driver’s seat and that’s when her real journey began.
She says it’s not just the thrill but also the discipline, adrenaline, and the constant challenges that got her hooked.
When asked whether her fame helped or hindered her racing career, Kalimpinya acknowledged that her name in the fashion and pageantry world definitely helped bring attention to her racing.
ALSO READ: Blazing a new trail: How Sandrine Isheja found herself into Motorsport
“It’s important. it attracts more people to the sport, especially young girls who need to see that it’s possible to be a female racer,” she said.
However, she is quick to note that fame alone doesn’t make one a successful driver.
“Motorsport requires resilience, intense training, and serious financial commitment. In fact, sometimes you have to work twice as hard. At the end of the day, the car doesn’t know who’s behind the wheel, it only responds to the skill and command of the driver,” she added.
According to Ange François Cyatangabo, Secretary General of Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC), it’s a good thing for Rwandan motorsport to see celebrities showing interest in the sport.
Some celebrities join to compete, and others do it for adventure which, he said, is also part of the sport.
For instance, Cyatangabo highlighted that Ish Kevin joined motorsports and immediately bought a license of one year, a move that shows how interested he is in motorsport.
“We also have seen some coming and going. Their impact on the sport is that they have people who follow them, and the sport can benefit from this and grow our fanbase and visibility,” Cyatangabo told The New Times.
Motorsports
Hyak Motorsports – Charlotte Race Advance – Speedway Digest
Event Overview · Event: Coca-Cola 600 · Time/Date: 6pm EDT on Sunday, May 25 · Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway · Layout: 1.5 mile quad-oval · Format: 600 miles/400 laps | Stages:100/200/300/400 · TV/Radio: PRIME / PRN / […]

Event Overview
· Event: Coca-Cola 600
· Time/Date: 6pm EDT on Sunday, May 25
· Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway
· Layout: 1.5 mile quad-oval
· Format: 600 miles/400 laps | Stages:100/200/300/400
· TV/Radio: PRIME / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Notes of Interest
Hyak Motorsports heads to their hometown track for the fan favorite Coca-Cola 600 with a new FunPops look. This weekend the No. 47 car will proudly showcase a red, white and blue FunPops livery, celebrating Memorial Day with the returning sponsor.
Known for their colorful and refreshing frozen treats, FunPops bring a nostalgic flair to the track – and aligns perfectly with Hyak’s passion for delivering excitement to fans of all ages. This partnership continues what both sides hope will be a long term collaboration.
In preparation for the Coca-Cola 600, Hyak Motorsports is heavily focused on their long run speed and staying focused all day. The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the biggest races of the year with the amount of points being awarded due to 4 stages of racing instead of the typical 3. Hyak Motorsports is participating in the 600 Miles of Remembrance program and honoring Andrew W. Nowacki this weekend at the Coca-Cola 600.
Hyak is kicking off the weekend with the 2nd annual Fan Day tomorrow, Thursday, May 22, from 12-4pm. Stop by the race shop in Harrisburg at 7201 Caldwell Road, Harrisburg, NC 28075.
FunPops promotional events will be happening throughout the weekend, with Hyak Motorsports handing out FunPops samples at the track to fans.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro for Hyak Motorsports:
“The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the biggest tests we face all season – it’s long, it’s demanding, and it really shows you what your team is made of. I’m proud to have FunPops riding with us again this weekend. Their energy and enthusiasm match what we’re bringing to the track. We’re locked in and ready to battle for every position under the lights at Charlotte.”
Hyak Motorsports PR
Motorsports
Motorsports: Racing’s big weekend features three classics
Remember the old ABC Sports slogan, “The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat”? Last Sunday’s final qualifying for the Indy 500 brought both — thrills for rookie driver Robert Shwartzman and Prema Racing, and agony for the entire Penske organization. Schwartzman, in his first oval-racing experience, made the Fast Six and set pole time […]

Remember the old ABC Sports slogan, “The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat”? Last Sunday’s final qualifying for the Indy 500 brought both — thrills for rookie driver Robert Shwartzman and Prema Racing, and agony for the entire Penske organization. Schwartzman, in his first oval-racing experience, made the Fast Six and set pole time with a lap at 232.79 mph. He’s the first rookie to accomplish that feat since Teo Fabi in 1983. Takuma Sato and Pato O’Ward are alongside him in the front row with Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist, and Alex Palou in row two. As for the agony part of the equation, Scott Dixon crashed heavily in practice after qualifying for the Fast 12. Then Josef Newgarden and Will Power’s cars were found to have illegal modifications to their attenuators and were disqualified. They will start at the rear of the pack and lose all qualifying points and their pit positions while Team Penske received a $100,000 fine and suspension for the strategists on the Nos. 2 and No. 12 cars. Then, on Wednesday, Team Penske announced the departure of IndyCar President Tim Cindric, IndyCar Managing Director Ron Ruzewski, and IndyCar General Manager Kyle Moore from the organization.
•••
On a positive note, three car-destroying crashes during practice and qualifying resulted in no serious driver injuries. Had similar crashes happened 50 years ago, the drivers would have lost their lives or been severely injured. I credit Safer barriers, car design, and the aeroscreen that all three will race tomorrow.
•••
If you thought that NASCAR has run out of rules gimmicks, think again. This year’s All-Star race featured a promoter’s caution which could be thrown at any time from lap 100 to lap 222. And of course they had to use it. Michael Waltrip mounted the starter’s stand and after clowning around for a while finally dropped the yellow flag (literally) with 35 laps to go, throwing things into confusion. Joey Logano, who had led most of the race, elected to stay out on old tires while most of the field pitted for scuffs. Logano was a sitting duck for Christopher Bell, who passed him for the win and the $1 million prize. Logano got the $100,000 consolation prize. Kyle Larson, fresh from Indy qualifying, started at the back, led for five laps and was running in the top 10 when he hit the wall and broke a toe link. He finished 21st.
•••
At the Imola track in Italy, Max Verstappen snatched the lead from pole sitter Oscar Piastri and appears to be back on form. Max extended his lead to over 18 seconds but a safety car situation in the late going reduced it to 6.1 seconds at the checker. The McLarens of Lando Norris finished second and third. Is Red Bull back in the driver’s seat? We’ll find out this weekend at Monaco. Among active drivers who have won there, Lewis Hamilton has three victories, two for Mercedes and one for McLaren. Verstappen and Aston-Martin’s Fernando Alonso have two each, and Charles Leclerc won last year for Ferrari.
•••
This weekend, we will see three of the world’s most famous races, all in one day. Qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix airs Saturday at 7 a.m. on ESPN, and ABC will broadcast the race at 6 a.m. Sunday. At 7 a.m., the Indy 500 pre-race show begins on Fox, followed by the race start at 3 p.m. There are no activities at Indy on Saturday, freeing Larson up to practice and qualify at 11:30 a.m. for the Coca-Cola 600. Saturday’s practice and qualifying and Sunday’s 3 p.m. race will air on Prime.
Motorsports
Fanatics Sportsbook to Back JJ Yeley and NY Racing in Two Races
Fanatics Sportsbook has reached a partnership with the No. 44 NY Racing Team in the NASCAR Cup Series driver, and its driver JJ Yeley. According to a press release, the black and red Fanatics Sportsbook colors will adorn the No. 44 Chevrolet in two races beginning with the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on […]

Fanatics Sportsbook has reached a partnership with the No. 44 NY Racing Team in the NASCAR Cup Series driver, and its driver JJ Yeley. According to a press release, the black and red Fanatics Sportsbook colors will adorn the No. 44 Chevrolet in two races beginning with the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 1.
The company will return to serve as the primary sponsor in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 2.
Fanatics Sportsbook sees the chance to partner with the NY Racing Team as a special chance to get its branding in front of the large NASCAR fanbase.
“We are proud to partner with John Cohen and the New York Racing Team,” said Selena Kalvaria, CMO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “The partnership with New York Racing Team is an incredible branding opportunity and an inflection point for us as we continue to build the fastest-growing sportsbook in America (Compared across all sportsbooks accounting for 98.5% of national handle). We are going to develop exclusive content for NASCAR fans and curate an elevated experience for our customers at each race that only a brand like Fanatics can offer. Our employees and customers can’t wait to cheer on the No. 44 Fanatics Sportsbook Chevrolet toward the checkered flag at Nashville Superspeedway and Phoenix Raceway.”
Fanatics Sportsbook will have a lot of activations within its app revolving around the partnership with the No. 44 team and JJ Yeley. The company will have exclusive new customer offers for the Nashville and Phoenix races, along with expanded NASCAR betting capabilities, such as race parlays, to finish on the podium, exacta and trifecta betting, and Fanatics Sportsbook will also offer unique JJ Yeley specials and live betting markets on raceday.
Motorsports
Juncos Hollinger Racing works to foster diversity, unity in motorsports
” class=”fuel_embeded_code_1393271″> SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — Juncos Hollinger Racing hopes one of their drivers will be in the Indianapolis 500 Victory Lane on Sunday afternoon. Juncos Hollinger Racing’s motorsport legacy is built not only on track but also on a strong commitment to community and culture. Since 2015, it has been developing young talent and […]

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — Juncos Hollinger Racing hopes one of their drivers will be in the Indianapolis 500 Victory Lane on Sunday afternoon.
Juncos Hollinger Racing’s motorsport legacy is built not only on track but also on a strong commitment to community and culture. Since 2015, it has been developing young talent and is now competing in the IndyCar series.
Ricardo Juncos, co-owner and president of Juncos Hollinger Racing, said, “I think the Latino community in Indianapolis is growing every year. It’s one of the most popular in the country, I have to say. I think there are about 300,000 Latinos in Indiana. As the only Latino team, our garage will be packed, and 80% will be Latino.”
Juncos immigrated to the United States in 2002 with only $400 in his pocket. While financial resources were scarce, his determination was unmatched. He set out to create a racing team capable of competing at the highest levels of U.S. motorsports.
“We started in the very low level of motor racing with go karts with kids 8 to 10 years old as a very small team. Twenty years later, here we are now with one of the best series in the world, the IndyCar series and the Indy 500.”
Juncos Hollinger Racing is based in Speedway, blocks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team employs around 70 people and fields two cars: the No. 76, driven by Indiana’s own Conor Daly, and the No. 77, driven by Sting Ray Rob.
The team touts itself as an active member of the Indiana community, promoting inclusivity and diversity within the sport. “Last year, we did a nice event at the shop, which was an open house with local businesses; they either brought food, merchandise, or whatever they do and opened the doors for people to enter the shop.”
Juncos Hollinger Racing sees itself as a symbol of determination, community and cultural celebration, reminding everyone that racing is not just about competition but unity and shared passion. “We just need to keep fighting, trusting ourselves, and pushing, and one day you get there, right? Never stop.”
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