Missing out on the third Clash in Los Angeles might have been a bummer for any of the 13 drivers who didn’t make the cut. But for Daniel Suarez, his victory in the NASCAR Mexico Series exhibition race quickly turned that frown upside down. Suarez was pulling double duty, also racing in the NASCAR Mexico Series right after the Cup Series showdown.

For Suarez, this was more than just another race; it was a homecoming of sorts. After all, he hails from Mexico. His journey to the U.S. in 2011 was no walk in the park. Starting off in the chilly climate of upstate New York, he grappled with the cold and the challenge of not speaking English, turning to movies as his language tutors. But the wave of love and support that has washed over him over the years and after his NASCAR Mexico Series exhibition race win overwhelmed him, which he shared on social media.

Daniel Suarez turned his NASCAR Mexico Series exhibition race victory into a street party with his most loyal fans. Riding high on the wave of support, the Trackhouse Racing star shared a peek into the joyous moments with his followers, making it clear that this win was for the people.

Suarez’s celebration was as unique as it gets, joining fans in the parking lot for a spontaneous barbecue, grabbing a piece of the action right off the grill. His social media post said it all: “That’s why I love my people!!! Always having a good time regardless of place, time, and weather!! Thank you very much, LA for making me feel really at home!!! 🙏🏽🇲🇽 PS The meat was delicious!!! 🤤🥩”

2023 was a tough year for Suarez, landing him in 19th place and marking his lowest average finish since his early days. The start to 2024 wasn’t any brighter, as he missed the mark for the Clash at the Coliseum. But the tides turned at the NASCAR Mexico Series invitational, where he emerged victorious ahead of the Cup Series exhibition. 

After snagging the Xfinity title in 2016 and making history as the first Mexican-born champion, Suarez’s career took a fast track to the Cup Series following Carl Edwards’ unexpected retirement. 

His journey took him from Joe Gibbs Racing to Stewart-Haas, then to the scrappy Gaunt Brothers Racing, before finding a home at Trackhouse Racing for the last three seasons.

Watch This Story: Daniel Suarez Claims Victory in NASCAR’s Mexico Series at L.A. Coliseum

Reflecting on his journey, Suarez shared, “I have a bittersweet taste about what happened to me in the Cup Series, but I am happy to have crossed the finish line first in this race. I pushed at the end and with about 20 laps left I knew that if I didn’t make any mistakes, I was going to take the victory.”

Despite the dream of racing with a top-tier NASCAR team in the Cup Series, Suarez’s path has been anything but smooth sailing.

The #99 went against his father’s advice to join Trackhouse Racing

Before finding his place at Trackhouse, Suarez had stints with three different racing teams. Yet, it was Ty Norris’s vision on a simple piece of paper that sealed the deal for him. During a heart-to-heart, Suarez recalled, “Back in 2020, he reached out to me and he told me about this project that he had with Justin Marks called Trackhouse. It was a piece of paper. He came to my house and it was a piece of paper and I bought in.”

But the bold move wasn’t met with cheers from every corner. Suarez shared a snippet from that crossroads moment, “I remember several people including my dad and my manager, they told me, Daniel, because we had other captions as well, maybe we should go somewhere else and sometimes I trust my gut feeling a lot and at Trackhouse that’s exactly what I did.”

With his recent win in the NASCAR Mexico Series exhibition race under his belt, all eyes are on Suarez as he heads to Daytona. It’s anyone’s guess what he’ll pull off next, but one thing’s for sure: his confidence is through the roof.

Read More: Daniel Suarez Commends NASCAR for Thinking on Their Feet to Save the Clash at the Coliseum Weekend