Race car driver Daniel Suárez made history this past weekend (June 12) when he became the first Mexican-born driver to win NASCAR’s Cup Series race at the Sonoma Raceway in California.
“Never give up on your dreams,” Suárez wrote on social media.
After crossing the finish line, Suárez held up a flag that read, “Win Numero Uno.” It may be his first win, but most fans don’t think it’ll be his last.
“Every NASCAR driver has had a tough journey,” Suárez said. “Everyone has a different journey. But my journey is definitely the most different of everyone else, leaving my family, my country, and just coming to a different culture, different language.”
Born in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1992, Suárez started go-kart racing at the age of 10. Eleven years later, he drove 26 hours cross-country from Mexico to Charlotte, North Carolina, to NASCAR’s headquarters to start his professional racing career. In 2016, Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national touring series race when he was victorious in the Xfinity Series championship in Michigan.
According to NBC Sports, Suárez became only the fifth foreign-born driver to win a Cup race in series history. Although he was the first from Mexico, he was the second from Latin America. Colombia’s Juan Pablo Montoya won the race in Sonoma in 2007.
“Very few people know how much work, sacrifice, tears, sweat this has cost me,” Suarez said. “So, we have to enjoy it. After a few days, we’re going to keep working because we want more.”
See the moment Daniel Suárez takes the checkered flag at Sonoma below:
