The NASCAR XFINITY Series made a triumphant return to Mexico City with Daniel Suarez celebrating victory. The Mexican driver clinched his first win on home soil during the 65-lap race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, marking the series’ first event there since 2008.
Suarez’s lead came partly by chance after a restart when Zilish spun coming out of Turn 1 while leading alongside Connor Zilish and Ty Gibbs. A subsequent collision between Gibbs and Carson Kvapil in the next corner allowed Suarez to take the lead just before a caution flag was waved due to the crash sequence.
From there, Suarez battled past Taylor Gray and Austin Hill to maintain his lead during some intense racing. There was a close moment when Suarez and Gray made contact near turns 2 and 3, with Suarez cutting across the infield grass to keep his lead. NASCAR ruled that Suarez’s aggressive move didn’t unfairly benefit him despite leaving his truck momentarily.
Suarez had to start from the back due to a crash in qualifying, locking up his brakes and hitting the wall in turn 11, causing damage that forced him to use a backup car that was still unpainted.
At 33 years old, Suarez was the first Mexican to win a NASCAR National Series championship, taking the 2016 Xfinity Series title. After his success, he moved up to the Cup Series, facing challenges with multiple teams before finding more stability with Trackhouse Racing. Over the last four seasons, Suarez has earned two Cup Series wins, including at Sonoma in 2022 and Atlanta in 2024.
Despite these wins, Suarez has faced struggles this season, fueling speculation about his future ahead of the upcoming Cup race in Mexico—the first ever Cup race held in the country. With his contract year coinciding with Zilisch waiting in the wings at Trackhouse, Saturday’s victory might influence Suarez’s trajectory, though it’s uncertain.
This win is a huge boost for NASCAR as it expands into Mexico, marking a significant moment for the sport in Suarez’s home country.
Fan Take: Suarez’s victory not only highlights his resilience but underscores NASCAR’s growing international appeal. Hosting a Cup race in Mexico and having a local champion could energize new fans and open doors for greater diversity in the sport.
