Local hero Daniel Suarez takes dramatic last to first NASCAR Xfinity Mexico win

Daniel Suarez did something incredible on Saturday, earning a dramatic victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ long-awaited return to Mexico City. He did it all in a backup car, starting 39th before steadily marching through the field.

“This is very special,” said Suarez. “This is very, very special to be here in front of my people. All these people have supported me for many, many years. They have loved me since my NASCAR Mexico days. And now we’re fighting with the big boys, so it feels good.”

The final stage went green with 19 laps to go and that’s when the pivotal moment came. Suarez, who restarted fourth, sent it on the outside in a three-wide move for the lead into Turn 1. He took the top spot by force as chaos ensued behind him. The two fastest cars all day were heavily damaged as both Connor Zilisch and Ty Gibbs crashed. Several other drivers were collected in the melee through Turns 1 and 2 while Suarez escaped unscathed.

The following restart was much cleaner as Suarez held onto the top spot. Despite the damage, Zilisch drove his wounded car back through the field, setting the fastest lap of all drivers. Suarez was cruising, but of course, a caution with seven laps to go for an incident involving Jesse Love set-up a mad dash to the finish.

Suarez had to hold on in another hectic restart with Gray drawing even with him, slamming doors through Turns 1 and 2. Suarez ran off into the grass due to the contact, but held onto the race lead. Gray never let him get too far away, shadowing him throughout the closing laps. On the final lap, Gray went for a mega lunge into the final corner, but kept it clean as Suarez escaped with the victory in hand.

Gray finished second, Austin Hill third, Christian Eckes fourth, and Zilisch fifth. William Sawalich finished sixth, Austin Green seventh, Jeb Burton eighth, Harrison Burton ninth, and Sammy Smith tenth.

Stages 1 and 2

The race got underway with Zilisch starting from pole position. Suarez did not wait to begin his march, quickly moving from 39th to 25th by the time the first caution flew on Lap 3. That was for Sam Mayer, who spun into the barriers.

Zilisch lost the lead after getting bumped out of the way, but he quickly rebounded as a tense fight for the lead played out between himself and Gibbs. They, along with several other frontrunners chose to short-pit, choosing track position over stage points. Carson Kvapil was among those who stayed out, winning Stage 1 win.

Several drivers suffered mechanical issues in the opening stage, including Justin Allgaier Jeremy Clements, and 2020 NASCAR Mexico champion Ruben Rovelo.

At the beginning of Stage 2, Suarez quickly moved from seventh to third with a bold lunge into Turn 1, but it was Zilisch was the driver in control of the race.

There were various single-car spins, but no cautions for cause during the second stage. Of note, Hill suffered a cut tire that put him to the tail-end of the lead lap. As drivers again chose to short-pit, Christopher Bell’s engine blew while running third. He limped into the pits and pulled to the side, allowing the stage to end under green flag conditions.

Sammy Smith claimed the Stage 2 win as Zilisch and Gibbs had a dramatic race off pit road, running side-by-side through the pit exit. Zilisch prevailed, but at the start of the final stage, both he and Gibbs would see their shot at a win slip away through the previously mentioned chaos.

After Suarez’s three-wide move to take the lead with 19 laps to go, he never relinquished the top spot again. This is his first Xfinity winning the 2016 finale at Homestead, where he also won the championship. He now has four career victories in the Xfinity Series.