Daniel Suárez makes NASCAR history at Sonoma: Fans celebrate monumental win
By Eric Treuden
Daniel Suárez has made NASCAR history and the whole industry is celebrating.
In his 195th career NASCAR Cup Series start, 30-year-old Daniel Suárez has won his first career race at auto racing’s highest level as he held off Chris Buescher for the victory at Sonoma Raceway.
This is an especially noteworthy victory for Suárez as he becomes just the fifth foreign-born driver, and the first from Mexico, to win a Cup Series race in the sport’s history.
The loveable driver was swarmed in victory lane by friends, family, teammates and fellow drivers alike on the heels of a dominant performance in today’s race.
Twitter world reacts to Daniel Suárez making NASCAR history
Jeff Gluck, the lead NASCAR writer over at The Athletic, highlights that not only was Suárez’s monumental victory the second road-course win for Trackhouse Racing in as many races, but his clutch win also locks him into a playoff berth in this year’s Chase.
Daniel Suarez, once cast aside with his career on the rocks, drives the race of his life and wins at Sonoma for his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 12, 2022
His season is redeemed with a playoff berth as Trackhouse Racing wins the first two road courses of 2022.
Of course, the fact that it took this long for Suárez to gain his first win in the Cup Series had many calling him a bust, saying he didn’t have what it takes to compete for wins in the series. Not everyone shared that sentiment though, as there are many out there who have believed in the driver all along.
https://twitter.com/GaboxRox15/status/1536130649354125312
I loved being in the minority of those that didn't doubt Joey Logano before his first win and now being in the minority that didn't doubt Daniel Suarez before his first. #nascar
— jupiterthunder (Flip seats, not tables.) (@jptrthndr) June 12, 2022
Who are the other foreign-born drivers to win in the Cup Series? Suárez finds himself in elite company alongside racing legend Mario Andretti, F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya and NASCAR’s most loveable Aussie, Marcos Ambrose.
Who are the 5 foreign-born NASCAR Cup race winners?
— Randolph L. Hallman (@RandyLHallman) June 12, 2022
- Daniel Suarez, Mexico
- Juan Pablo Montoya, Colombia
- Marcos Ambrose, Australia
- Earl Ross, Canada
- Mario Andretti, Italy (town now part of Croatia)#NASCAR #Sonoma
The grind for Suárez to get to victory lane has been a long one as he has had to fight through eight years of doubts from fans who want to see him fail. He performed in the Truck Series for a few years, winning a race along the way, and then really took off in the Xfinity Series, where he won his first NASCAR championship back in 2016 on the heels of a three-win season.
In Saturday night’s truck race, Suárez filled in as an injury substitution for Carson Hocevar who was hurt in a crash in last week’s race.
20 hours ago this guys story was worth a 30 for 30 episode. Then he just won the Sunday race. Unreal!!! #danielsuarez https://t.co/3IIse34oAW
— Garrett Gnu 💙 Progressive Gnutjob 🐸 (@Garrett_Gnu) June 12, 2022
And now he’s on Victory Lane. Talk about a great story.
light. Related Story. Daniel Suarez talks filling in for Carson Hocevar