Daniel Suarez is in a position to where he has to prove himself. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver was abruptly brought up to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017 and quickly let go following the 2018 season.

Yes, the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion was thrown to the curb just as quickly as he got there with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Suarez, wasn’t necessarily ready to move up to the Cup Series for 2017. But, Carl Edwards unexpectedly retired and JGR moved their prized star up to replace him. Unfortunately, Suarez had no prior Cup starts before 2017 and he had just one month to prepare for a grueling 36 race schedule.

He struggled in year No. 1. Suarez, had just one top five finish, 12 top 10’s and 40 laps led in his first season. 2018 didn’t go much better. He had three top five finishes, nine top 10’s and 35 laps led.

With Furniture Row Racing shuttering after last year was over, Toyota didn’t want to lose Martin Truex Jr. So, Suarez was let go and replaced with Truex as a result. SHR picked Suarez up, but on a one-year guarantee for 2019 and a team option for 2020.

It was a year to prove himself. While he was trying to do so, he’s watched Truex win a season tying four times in 2019 in the same car that he piloted the last two years.

Also, the start of 2019 was better for Suarez, but still not ideal. As he heads into this weekend’s Quaker State 400 (7:30 p.m. ET/NBCSN/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) he only sits 17th in the standings, three points out of the playoffs.

Not making the playoffs three years in-a-row, especially when they were all with JGR and SHR cars, isn’t a good look. That’s why the Mexican driver was so pleased to earn the pole for Saturday night’s race at the Kentucky Speedway.

Suarez pushed his SHR No. 41 Ford to a best lap of 184.590 mph on the 1.5-mile track en route to his second career Cup Series pole.

“I really want to win so bad,” said Suarez, who is seeking his first Monster Energy Series victory. “I haven’t been in Victory Lane for a while. The last time was in Brazil in a go-kart race. I am looking forward to bringing a trophy home for a while, and we have a very fast car so now it is up to me to make it happen tomorrow night.”

Suarez, has two top five finishes and six top 10’s in 2019 to go along with already leading more laps in 2019 (53) than he did in each season the last two years.

With a quick car so far this weekend (3rd, 8th respectively in practice), Suarez is among the favorites to win the 19th race of the season on Saturday.