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There was no doubt that Daniel Suarez would eventually get his first NASCAR National series victory at some point – the only real question was when?
The answer to that question came this weekend at Michigan International Speedway when the NASCAR Next and Drive for Diversity alum won the Menards 250 on Saturday afternoon, making history as the first Mexican born driver to earn a victory in a NASCAR national series event.
Suarez has been a serious contender to win in the both the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series races over the last two years. The monkey on his back has been a burden for Suarez with high expectations and added pressure for victory every week – finally the monkey is gone.
“That monkey was in my back for long time. Finally is out,” says Suarez. “So definitely it feels different. Less pressure.
“Right now I feel like we are going to go to the racetrack a little bit more relaxed knowing that we know how to win races now. We finally learn how to close the deal off. That was something really good.”
Getting the job done this weekend means a great deal for Suarez and his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team as the victory means they now qualify to take part in the first XFINITY Series Chase playoffs that will take place this fall. Just as important, the victory gives him and his team plenty of momentum and confidence for the rest of the season.
“I think the first one is always the most difficult to get in every series, pretty much in everything,” adds Suarez. “We finally got that one. So from now on, hopefully we can keep this momentum. We can start building our confidence as a group, the whole team, and move forward.
“I felt like we were strong every single weekend. Every single weekend we had the speed in that 19 ARRIS Toyota Camry. The only thing we needed was to put all the pieces together, to put a good race together, to try to be strong at the end and put ourselves in a good position.”
Although the track at Michigan has not been a favorite in the past, Suarez says,
“Right now, it is!”
But before heading to Michigan, Suarez admits that his mindset was in the wrong place with not only outside pressure to win. but his own self pressure to win as soon as possible. Once he changed his mindset, the rest fell into place on his way to his first XFINITY Series victory.
“Honestly, a few weeks ago I was putting a lot of pressure to myself to try to win the race, to try to get that victory, try to do it now. I felt like that was wrong,” admits Suarez. “In the last week or so I start to relax a little bit more. I stopped thinking about it. I just start try hard to make it happen, but taking the pressure out. It’s exactly how things start to work out better.
“I think I was able to understand that early enough, to try to put my mindset and put myself in the right direction, try to enjoy this victory of Michigan.”
Leading the series point standings, Suarez feels good about representing his native country of Mexico, with a great deal of support from NASCAR, and hopes that his success inspires other drivers to follow their dream.
“Hopefully this can help to show more young drivers out there that they are doing good things and they are trying to follow a dream,” says Suarez. “Hopefully that can help to give them a little bit more confidence to come here to the US, to get the support from NASCAR.
“Really, I had a lot of support from NASCAR when I came here to the U.S., in the beginning of my racing career, trying to make it happen, pretty much like what we are doing right now.”
As for his fans back home, they are super proud of Suarez and what’s he’s accomplished in the United States and they’re texting and sending him messages of congratulations. They’re so happy for his success they can’t stop watching the race replays.
“From what I hear from friends, people, sponsors, they are getting crazy down there. The people is super happy and excited about what’s going on. I have received a lot of text messages and, as well, just comments, really good comments on social media about the race. They keep watching the replay of the race. They still getting excited.”
There is certainly plenty to keep Suarez fans excited with many years ahead for his career, and especially now that the pesky monkey is off his back.