Daniel Suarez and his Trackhouse Racing buddy, Shane Van Gisbergen captivated the masses like anything. But what makes these two gentlemen stand out apart from other NASCAR superstars? Well, the answer is quite simple, their nationality and their roots. While the V8 Supercar Series champion’s Kiwi heritage brings in a lot of eyeballs from Oceania, Suarez’s Mexican roots have the whole country of Mexico rooting for the 32-year-old.

This is something NASCAR has been yearning for, the much-sought-after international fame and attention. And now with Suarez’s thumping Cup Series win at Atlanta, edging out champions in a photo finish, the hype around the racer is through the roof.

Reflecting on this aspect, NASCAR veteran, Kyle Petty uncovered how these superstars are bridging nations, playing a bigger role in NASCAR than any other drivers.

Veteran Kyle Petty talks about the impact of Daniel Suarez and SVG on the racing community

The year was 2016 when Daniel Suarez shattered all conventional norms and became the first-ever Mexican to win a NASCAR series when he was crowned the Xfinity Series champion, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. Well, that was the one that started it all. While the driver was promoted to the Cup side of things the very next year, things did not pan out the way, the team or the driver wanted it to be.

But Suarez persevered through the hardship and in 2022 he broke through, winning his first-ever Cup Series race at Sonoma. Fast forward to this year, Suarez has already secured a berth in the playoffs with a spectacular finish at Atlanta, a victory that will certainly stand the test of time, already going down in the history books as NASCAR’s third-best finish when he edged out Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney in the last-lap.

Similarly, 3-time Supercars champion, Shane Van Gisbergen aka SVG also sparked a new row when he trounced the Cup Series regulars to win NASCAR’s inaugural street course in Chicago last year. He is now a full-time driver in the Xfinity Series and behind these talents line up a massive horde of international fans who are genuinely intrigued by NASCAR. Reflecting on this, Petty during his conversation in GoPRNLive stated the positive impact these drivers can have on the Stock Car racing scene here in the US to get the sport worldwide.

He asked, “Who would’ve ever thought that we would start off the 2024 season talking about two drivers Daniel Suarez and SVG?” Furthermore, he added, “Two guys, who can take our sport not to a different audience per se but to a different country. An entire nation of different fans and that’s huge for the sport. When we come out of the second race of the year and you’re talking the fans of Mexico and the fans of Australia.” 

When the co-host relayed that the whole Supercar garage in Australia would tune in to watch SVG race in NASCAR, Petty said, “Every one of them, if I know racecar drivers, every one of them is thinking, ‘I beat him, I beat him, I can get there, I’ve beat him before.” 

SVG overcomes the Daytona disappointment and racks up a podium finish in Atlanta

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“I tried to like to analyze every wreck, you know all six that I got involved in. I couldn’t figure out a way I could have done things differently,” said the Kiwi according to Motorsports.com, after a wreck-riddled race in his Xfinity Series debut at Daytona. The Red Bull star athlete whose previous oval experience was an Indy start in 2023, bettered the result from a dismal 26th-place finish to a 12th-place finish in 2024.

Moreover, Shane van Gisbergen has finished on the podium in just his second NASCAR Xfinity Series race after a wild finish in Atlanta. SVG started 13th and was just outside the top 10 until a caution arrived just three laps from the finish which brought the race into overtime. Despite being eighth when the race restarted in overtime, the seas parted as many ran out of fuel when the green flag dropped and the Kiwi flew to fourth in the #97.

The Kiwi then passed Ryan Truex to snatch a decisive third-place finish, redeeming himself from a disappointing debut at Daytona where he finished outside the top 10 at the twelfth spot.

2024 Ambetter 400: Daniel Suarez Locks in Career Second Playoff Spot at Atlanta as Kyle Busch Goes Winless Again