He attempted to make his debut in the NASCAR Busch Series (now the Xfinity Series) in 2005 at the series' inaugural race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course in Mexico City. Fielding his own No. 97 Chevrolet, Souza failed to qualify. He returned later that year at the other road course on the schedule, Watkins Glen, and did not qualify again. After not entering any races in 2006, Souza returned to the Busch Series in 2007, again at Mexico City, but now using the No. 13, his West Series car number. Unlike two years earlier, he made the field this time. After finishing a solid 23rd in his debut, he attempted one other race that year, Phoenix in November, where he successfully qualified for the race but crashed out and finished 40th. That race is his last start in the series to date.
Souza has competed in NASCAR's West Series since 2006. He has one career win in the series, coming at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah in 2008.[1] He completed his first full-time season in 2017 before scaling back to part-time for the 2018 season.[2]
Souza's 2019 season was highlighted by two top-three finishes: a third-place run at Colorado National Speedway (his first podium in two years)[3] and a runner-up finish at Meridian Speedway.[4] He also made headlines at Gateway after on-track contact with Hailie Deegan, calling her "spoiled and rotten" and deeming her move "disrespectful."[5]
Souza's crew chief is Michael Muñoz, who has worked with him since the late 2000s.[6]
On April 14, 2022, Souza stated in an interview for the ARCA website that he might only run part-time in the West Series in 2023 in a new second car for his own team with someone else replacing him in his No. 13 car full-time.[7] Although Souza did return for another full season in 2023, which he confirmed would be his final season as a driver,[8] he and his team did debut a second part-time car, the No. 3, at Shasta with him driving that car and Tyler Reif driving his No. 13 car in that race.[9]
On January 3, 2024, it was announced that Reif will run full-time in the No. 13 car in 2024, with Souza returning to the series part-time in the No. 3 car.[10]
Motorsports career results
NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
