With drivers joining from all around the world, NASCAR today is diverse and dynamic. Where Shane van Gisbergen has already initiated his NASCAR journey with a road course win last year, Daniel Suarez’s journey to be the first Mexican driver to achieve success is quite inspiring. Despite all odds, he went on to become a formidable driver in NASCAR. During the 2016 season, Suarez also reached the pinnacle of his career by winning his inaugural Xfinity Series.

Thrilling fans with a last-lap overtaking maneuver on Kyle Busch and securing the win and a place in the record books, the victory at Michigan was crucial for his championship quest. Suarez’s consistent performance throughout the season earned him a spot in the Round of 8 in the chase for the Xfinity Series title, and he was crowned his season by winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. However, did you ever wonder how his career in the States started?

A drive from Mexico that changed Daniel Suarez’s life forever

On the latest episode of Stacking Pennies with Ryan Flores, some memories from 2011 were unfurled. The Trackhouse Racing star was found discussing his first days in the States and how he drove for two days to reach a party where everyone was celebrating Joey Logano‘s success at Pocono. Logano, who is now a rival to Suarez, drove Ford for Team Penske, witnessing the latter’s arrival firsthand in the world of NASCAR. Coleman Pressley, who is currently the spotter of the No. 22 Ford Mustang driven by Joey Logano in the NASCAR Cup Series, was the acting crew chief for Daniel Suarez in 2011.

And out of everyone, it was Pressley in that party who introduced Suraez’s 2-day  “noisy” beetle journey. So when Flores initiated the conversation with, “And I remember Coleman being like, oh, the guy who’s driving for me is coming from Mexico. He’s literally driving from Mexico right here.” Daniel Suarez, along with Corey LaJoie, recalled how 2011 had a different set and who all he was working with. He said, “Well It was like two days. But here’s the thing. The beetle. Have you driven an old beetle? Those things are slow, noisy, and comfortable. So it was a long drive.”

Suarez hardly spoke English at that time. Later that year, he took significant steps forward in his racing career. In the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, totaling nine races, his best result has been a P5 finish at Columbus Motor Speedway in Ohio. This pivotal year also marked the Mexican’s transition to racing in the United States, laying the groundwork for his future NASCAR success.

How did 2011 help him gain entry into the racing world?

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In the same year, competing in the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series, Daniel Suarez delivered strong performances throughout the season. He secured three poles and finished ninth overall. Thanks to three top-five and seven top-10 finishes, on January 29, 2011, Suarez competed in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway in California, where he started 12th and impressively finished 11th, the highest among Mexican drivers. Needless to mention, crew chief Pressley made no mistakes while on his team. With his guidance, he reached where he is today.

The 2016 Xfinity winner now races part-time in the Xfinity Series. His focus shifted to the Cup, mainly when he was signed by the newly formed Trackhouse Racing. Currently, Daniel Suarez sits in the 18th position in the Cup Series standings, with one victory at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, dashing past Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch by millimeters. Other than that, he has two Top-5 and two Top-10 finishes, along with 39 laps being led.

Will he be able to clinch a second victory of the season to ease his spot in the playoffs? Let’s see what is kept in Darlington for him. What are your predictions regarding this?