When everything behind him settled, Daniel Suarez said in his winner’s press conference that he felt something he’d never felt in his racing career during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Saturday (June 14).
“I was able to hear the people like they were right here,” Suarez said. “Not just in the stadium, but also in turn 1 and turn 3. It was unbelievable. I got goosebumps, and I felt so blessed. I’ve never had that feeling in my life.”
Shane van Gisbergen’s upset win in 2023 at the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race on the Chicago street course ensured the event would be memorable despite the logistical issues. Similarly, Suarez’s performance in winning the Xfinity Series’ return to Mexico City ensured a successful weekend, marking a historic moment in the series’ history.
For most.
For some fans, it was time to come up with reasons why this cool thing actually sucks!
Oh yeah, the old social media crowd loved this race. First, there was the provisional that NASCAR announced would be implemented for the race. The ruling was Suarez’s saving grace after he crashed in qualifying, allowing him into the race as the 39th starter in what would normally be a 38-car field with the tradeoff being no NASCAR prize money.
If anything, this scenario worked out as best as it could have. Imagine if NASCAR didn’t allow an expanded field. One of these teams who spent more on travel, likely had to deal with the travel nightmares leading up to the weekend and had to work through all the logistical differences of traveling to another country — would have to be sent home with nothing.
For a smaller or newer team with limited backing that could legitimately shatter its operation. They would have caught a break with a JR Motorsports driver crashing in qualifying, but can you imagine having a crowd as large or passionate if their countryman wasn’t in the race? In the end, it was a win-win for the teams and for the fans.
Suarez started dead last in a 65-lap race. Nobody in NASCAR’s three national series has ever gone last-to-first to win on a road course. Suarez not only did it, but did so with 19 laps to spare — and probably could have done it sooner if not for stage breaks creating pit strategy.
“After he caused a big wreck,” one commenter cries.
Maybe this person wasn’t watching. Maybe they decided to tune into the AI Spanish broadcast of MRN. That’s the only way I can explain someone looking at the accident — or accidents — on the restart with 18 laps to go and think they were Suarez’s fault.
First, Connor Zilisch dives to the inside in turn 1 to force it three-wide against Ty Gibbs and Suarez. He jumps the curb, comes up into the path of William Sawalich and gets spun out. Gibbs, from the contact, runs into Suarez, who muscles his way back into his original spot so he can make turn 2. Then, with Suarez clear of everyone by a few car lengths, Gibbs and Carson Kvapil make contact and collect a bunch of other cars.
After that, it was almost a cakewalk for Suarez. He led the final 19 laps and was only closely challenged by Taylor Gray. Zilisch and Gibbs managed to march back through the field late but didn’t have the time to catch the No. 9 Chevy. NASCAR and Suarez got their storybook ending, last-to-first in the series’ return to Mexico.
Too storybook for some.
“Rigged” was the rallying cry for those who thought NASCAR had to have somehow “scripted” the Xfinity race in Mexico.
I’ll bypass the obvious question of why wouldn’t they script the Cup race for Suarez to win too. With all the complaints from drivers and teams about every little thing going into the Mexico trip — canceled flights, not being able to leave their hotel, losing luggage, traveling across the U.S. to get there — you think they wouldn’t complain if they thought Suarez was given an unfair advantage or if NASCAR manipulated the race in his favor?
Suarez’s advantage was experience. He won at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez three times in the NASCAR Mexico Series. He also happens to have 400 national series starts and was driving for probably the best team in the Xfinity Series. If you consider that unfair and an injustice in NASCAR, why not make a stand when Cup guys like Christopher Bell or the Hendrick Motorsports drivers come into the series?
The race, and in particular the closing laps, was awesome to watch if you’re a fan of moments like that in sports. NASCAR very seldom gets the storybook ending we see in other sports because of all the variables it takes to get there. Everything aligned on Saturday, and, for most, Suarez celebrating to the elation of the stadium section fans will be a visual that will be remembered for a long time.
It’s a shame some couldn’t watch and take that moment in. I’d recommend taking the tinfoil hats off your heads next time. Things are more fun that way.
James Krause joined Frontstretch in March 2024 as a contributor. Krause was born and raised in Illinois and graduated from Northern Illinois University. He currently works in La Crosse, Wisconsin as a local sports reporter, including local short track racing. Outside of racing, Krause loves to keep up with football, music, anime and video games.