When Mexico native Daniel Suarez found himself and his #9 JRM Quaker State Chevrolet in the wall junked during qualifying after a lockup, it seemed like 2025 would continue to haunt the 2016 Xfinity Champion.

Whether it be self-inflicted mistakes or bad luck, Suarez has faced adversity and endured painful finishes in the Cup series, during a year where the pressure is on to perform. 

Going into the weekend in Mexico for the first time since 2009, one could imagine that the pressure for Suarez in not only Cup, but Xfinity as well, would be intensified. 

Despite the pressure, Suarez wheeled his backup car to victory lane and sealed a win on home turf, making history and sending the crowd into a frenzy. How he got there was a rollercoaster of events and setbacks that could only be found in a movie.  

Starting in the back of the field to begin the race, Suarez battled amongst the Xfinity drivers on his home turf, grinding out laps and taking his backup Chevrolet up the field. 

Lap three saw issues already as Sam Mayer would go careening into the wall, bringing out the first caution of the day. 

Ty Gibbs and pole winner Connor Zilisch battled against one another the entire first stage, where restarts saw three and four wide action. Gibbs had a moment sending the 18-year-old rookie into the grass with a little bump and run action. Cup veteran Christopher Bell was also present in the action, giving the young Zilisch a dose of what’s to come in his young career. 

The rest of stage one avoided controversy and as the leaders pit, the #1 of Carson Kvapil would capitalize off of the cycle and win the stage. 

As stage two began, the suspects of the last stage surged back up front with Zilisch leading the pack, determined to continue his undefeated road course run in the series. Suarez continued his surge from the back, finding himself in third behind the tandem of Zilisch and Gibbs. 

As the young Trackhouse star led the field, chaos would continue to reign supreme for multiple drivers, with Austin Hill blowing a tire and stage one winner Kvapil spinning out in the stadium section. The same song and dance we saw in stage one for pit cycles would play out again, with race leaders Gibbs and Zilisch pitting. 

The benefactor of the stages pit cycle this time was yet another JRM driver, this time being Sammy Smith, who would win stage two and take his first stage win of the year. 

Stage three immediately devolved into action and a caution, as a huge shove by Suarez into Gibbs caused three wide into turn one, spinning Zilisch and causing him to take out multiple fast cars. Meanwhile, Gibbs suffered a cut tire and flew into the wall. 

Coming out of the smoke was Suárez, who hasn’t won since he shocked the NASCAR world and won three wide at Atlanta in 2024. Assuming the lead in a backup car, all the 33-year-old had to do was hold off two hungry drivers in Christian Eckes and Taylor Gray. the latter narrowly missing victory earlier in the season. 

With nine laps to go and the crowd getting ever more unglued, it wouldn’t be easy for Suarez. Jesse Love spun, bringing out the caution and forcing Suarez to earn it in the final laps. 

With four laps to go, Suarez would battle Gray tightly, jockeying for position. Suarez got shoved into the grass but hung onto the car, snatching first and taking it all the way home for an iconic win. 

The win would be his fourth in the Xfinity series, and his fourth at Autodromo Hermano Rodriguez in a NASCAR series. The reception from the fans was roaring, and as he got out of his car, he immediately addressed them in Spanish. Not only is it a win for Suarez, it’s a win for mexican culture and the expansion of the sport. 

While usually a buschwhacking win isn’t my favorite, especially in a race with this much competition, how can you say no to such a gritty and storybook win for Suarez. 

While the race is a shot in the arm and a moment in time for Suarez, he was fully focused on the Cup race tomorrow. 

The Cup Series takes the green flag in Mexico City at 12:00 PM PST. Suarez will start 10th on the grid.