'I really feel we're in the right spot' - Suarez

With the pageantry of the Daytona 500 behind him, Daniel Suarez is ready to settle in at Joe Gibbs Racing as a full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver.

"I just feel like it's going to be a hell of a year for us," Suarez said. "Definitely we have a lot going on, we have to learn. But I really feel like we're in the right spot to try and learn as quick as possible."

Caught up in a late accident, Suarez finished 29th at Daytona. Considered by many in the garage the true start of the season, Atlanta Motor Speedway is his next test.

Feeling as though he's going to learn as quickly as possible comes from Suarez knowing what resources he has at his disposal. Particularly when it comes to learning from veteran teammates Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth (pictured above leading Suarez's No. 19 during their qualifying Duel race) and Denny Hamlin.

It's a good position to be in, Suarez admits. When he asks a question, Suarez knows he's going to get the right answer. Even better, this weekend Suarez will have Carl Edwards also to lean on as his car's former driver, a three-time winner at Atlanta, will be in attendance.

"He's a great guy, a very good friend," Suarez (pictured with one of the Monster Energy Girls at Daytona) said of Edwards.

Suarez and Edwards had the chance to catch up this week as the two were both in attendance for a Subway photoshoot. Subway will stay on the No. 19 Toyota this year with Suarez, while Edwards will continue to work with the company in other capacities.

"He just asked me, 'Hey, Daniel, do you want me to go over there? Do you think it would be helpful?' I said, 'Man, to have a driver like you who has a bunch of wins here in Atlanta, it's a big deal," said Suarez.

"He's going to be here to help me out, help the team out. It's a team he knows very well. It's going to be good to have him just to watch and to tell us what's going on from his view."

Suarez is not sure if Edwards will stay for Sunday's Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, but he will be at the track Friday. It will be Suarez's first Cup start at the 1.5-mile speedway. He does have two Atlanta starts in both the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series, with two top-10 finishes.

With 500 miles ahead Sunday, Suarez is looking at it as an evaluation of where he stacks up.

"I feel like this is going to be our first race of the season where we are going to know exactly where we're at and how hard we have to work and how hard we have to work to get better," Suarez said.

"It's the backyard for (sponsor) ARRIS. I'm super excited to have a lot of people from ARRIS here this weekend, as well."