My journey was different,’ Daniel Suarez on his atypical NASCAR journey that makes his first career win at Sonoma special
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Daniel Suarez
The No:99 Trackhouse Racing Chevy Camaro ZL1 was driven directly to the NASCAR history books in the Toyota/ Save Mart 350 hosted by the Sonoma Raceway. The 1.99 miles Californian Road course race saw Daniel Suarez claiming his first career cup race-winning and, in the process, becoming the first-ever Mexican to win a cup race in the premier stock car racing championship, and only the fifth international driver to do so.
Daniel Suarez who was among the consistent drivers on the grid had to wait so long a long five years and 195 starts to see his race-win dream becoming a reality. One of the early graduates of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity initiative the now veteran who moved to the US, with very limited knowledge of the culture and the language, of his native Mexico had to go through a lot to get where he is now.
Daniel Suarez has been close to securing his win multiple times this season but wasn’t able to do so as the lady luck was never on his side, whereas his teammate Ross Chastain was able to secure two wins, the first two wins of Trackhouse racing in NASCAR, in the early parts of the season. Though Suarez was up to Chastain’s speed and performance level in the majority of the races sometimes surpassing him the lack of wins often limited the appreciation that the veteran deserves.
Now Daniel Suarez has proven his doubters wrong and the 2017 Xfinity series champion who now also holds the record for the only non-US driver to have won races in all three national NASCAR series has come forth reflecting the journey he has been through and how his unique way up to right now make his maiden win special.
Find out what Daniel Suarez said
Daniel Suarez acknowledged that he is yet to catch up with his phone as he knows he has over 1000 messages on his phone appreciating him. He pointed out that it’s a special and crazy feeling for him to get the win. He went on to say most of the people around don’t know about his journey to the top of NASCAR while the drivers who stopped to congratulate him for the win is well aware of the nothingness he come from.
“I haven’t been able to catch up on my phone just yet, and I have over 1,000 texts. It was pretty crazy. It’s just special. There are not a lot of people who know my entire journey, and I would say most of the drivers who stopped and congratulated me, know that journey. They know it hasn’t been easy and I came from nothing,” Daniel Suarez said.
He went on to say that he came to the US trying to learn the language and fin opportunities, which he found and flourished with NASCAR. Daniel Suarez went on to add that he was not trying to say his journey was harder than anybody else what he is trying to say is his journey was different, though he understands everyone’s journey is tough. He points out that the uniqueness of his journey has been recognized by many and they’re happy for his successes.
“That I came here trying to learn the language and trying to find opportunity. I’m not trying to say my journey was harder than anyone else’s but my journey was different. Everyone’s journey is tough; no one has it easy. But my journey has been different and I think that a lot of people recognized that and they were happy to see me succeed,” Daniel Suarez added.
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Justin P Joy
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