Crew chief Rogers still part of the team - Suarez

Daniel Suarez was just as surprised as everyone else that crew chief Dave Rogers was taking indefinite personal leave from the No. 19 team.

"I respect a lot Dave's decision to do this and to try to take care of his personal stuff," Suarez said Friday at Martinsville Speedway. "You know, with a Cup schedule, as busy as it is, sometimes it's difficult to do both things at the same time. I have a lot of respect for Dave.

"He's a great guy, a great crew chief. I know how hard he wants to be at the racetrack. It's pretty much what he'd been working hard his entire life, and the only thing I can do is wish him the best. I hope he comes back soon."

Joe Gibbs Racing did not offer details on Rogers' decision, which was announced Wednesday night. Suarez didn't seem to have any additional information either, other than to repeatedly say he respects the decision Rogers felt he needed to make. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie revealed he was informed about losing his crew chief about the same time as everyone else.

For the STP 500 (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1), Suarez will work with Scott Graves, who is the same crew chief he won the Xfinity Series championship with last season.

But Suarez made it known Rogers is still a part of the team, even when he's not present. The two had just begun to develop a bit of chemistry together with back-to-back top-10 finishes at Phoenix and Fontana.

Having familiarity with Graves will help Suarez as makes his first Cup Series start at Martinsville. But what happens beyond this weekend is still to be determined.

"I'm guessing that maybe Scott is going to stay there for the whole year, but I don't really know," Suarez said. "I guess we're going to move as we go."

That includes finding out whether or not Rogers will eventually return to the program.

"The truth is that I don't really know," Suarez said. "I wish I knew, but I don't really know myself. What I can tell you is that Dave is an amazing person. Outside of the racetrack, he's an amazing person. Even before I started racing with him in Daytona, I went to his house with the entire team, and we had dinner.

"He's a great person, and we've become friends. We've been together just five races, and we are right now very tight friends. I really respect his decision. I can tell you that he wishes he was here. I wish him the best with whatever decision he is making. I just hope that he comes back soon to do whatever that he loves to do – that is being in the races and being at the racetrack every weekend just like myself."