Daniel Suarez, a Mexican-born driver, became the first Mexican-born driver in NASCAR's Cup Series Toyota Save Mart 350 win at Sonoma Raceway in California.
Chris Buescher was able to hold off the 30-year-old Nuevo Leon native for the last 23 laps, allowing him to win his first career victory at the highest NASCAR level. This was his 195th NASCAR start.
Suarez, who drives Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet and is co-owned with Pitbull, celebrated his birthday by eating a taco pinata. His fan club, "Daniel’s Amigos," cheered him on. Members wore red T-shirts to show their support.
"It was a difficult journey in Cup Series, but these guys believed that I was capable. Mexico has a lot to thank me. Suarez stated that my family never lost faith in me, during an interview with The Associated Press.
He is the Latin American driver who has won a NASCAR Cup Series race alongside Juan Pablo Montoya from Colombia.
Suarez arrived in the United States eleven years ago. He was granted his U.S. residence in 2018. This win is a boost for NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. It is designed to train and develop female and minority drivers both on and off the track.
He became the first Mexican driver to win NASCAR’s "minor league" Xfinity Series race in 2016. He was promoted to the highest level of NASCAR.
Suarez addressed his supporters and said that the win would be "the most important of all".
Suarez stated that all the red-shirted people today are my people in an interview with Insider. "Coming from Mexico, not being able to speak the language, trying out different opportunities, setting goals, and trying to achieve my dreams. These are my people. It is an honor to be able to represent them all.
"Hopefully, the success we've had, and that we're currently having, will fuel them as well as to continue pushing in whatever they want -- [whether] that be racing, mechanics, engineering, or business -- to continue fueling them to believe that they can achieve it. He told Insider that they just need to work hard and give everything they can do.
