“Sky is the limit” when Mexico and US work together

Most of the time, Chase Elliott is NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, but that’s certainly not the case this weekend in Mexico City. Daniel Suarez, the only Mexican driver in the Cup Series, is getting a lot of attention since his arrival and understandably so. 

There is a constant media presence around him and his car as he takes on Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet. And should he win the race on Sunday, it would surely be the biggest victory of his entire career.

A “very special” weekend for Suarez

“Man, it’s very hard to put into words,” said Suarez about the experience so far. “I had an expectation on the hype of the people and energy and the fans coming and the media, you guys. The entire week and weekend now, it has exceed every single expectation that I had. For that I want to say thank you to you guys. 

“This event I feel like it hasn’t even started yet, and it has been — I’ve been living a dream. That’s exactly what has been happening for me the last few days. I feel very blessed, very happy to be here racing in front of you guys. I feel that finally I was able to drive the car, not just talk about it. I feel really a fish in the water. Hopefully I ask just continue to have fun and continue to enjoy this moment. We’re making history right now together. Not just NASCAR, not just me, but the entire country of Mexico.

“This is something very special, and it’s also a very good example when these two countries work together, the sky is the limit. I think that it’s a great example of the work that NASCAR and Mexico Series and all the promoters have been doing together.”

Suarez will run a special helmet design to celebrate the occasion. And everywhere he goes around the track, legions of fans follow, asking for photos and/or autographs. “I’m like a kid on Christmas,” added Suarez, who welcomes the enthusiastic fans with open arms. “That’s why you guys see me with a smile pretty much everywhere I go. It’s been a blast so far. Like I said, this is just getting started. This is only the first day of the weekend.”

“We need more Latinos in the sport”

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

Suarez also believes this is an important moment for NASCAR to further diversify the sport, opening doors that were previously closed or simply impossible to reach.

“I think that this is very important to continue to grow the diversity in the sport, and we need more people from Mexico,” said Suarez. We need more Latinos in the sport. Not just drivers, everything across the board. Hopefully this race really opens the eyes for many young guys or girls that want to do something in NASCAR in the U.S.”

Last year, Suarez passed his citizenship exam and now holds a dual citizenship in both Mexico and the United States. Beyond him, the only full-time Mexican driver in one of the three national levels is Andres Perez De Lara, who currently competes in the NASCAR Truck Series.