MEXICO CITY — Daniel Suarez has become the unofficial tour guide for all things Mexico City as NASCAR prepares to race internationally this Sunday for the first international points-paying Cup Series event of the modern era.

From where to eat, what to do, how to navigate the city and even basic conversation in Spanish, Suarez has been the go-to guy in the garage since NASCAR said it would take the Cup Series outside the United States for just the third time in 77 years.

The Monterrey native has made multiple trips to NASCAR as the face of Sunday’s race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where he’s raced on a different course layout 13 times, with three wins in NASCAR’s Mexico Series.

He’d like to win at the Cup level — if he pulls it out in his home country Sunday it will be his first victory of this season — but Suarez is juggling a very difficult balancing act. He’s elated to be racing in front of a home crowd, honored to show of the culture and magic of Mexico City, but at the same time tremendously concerned about his NASCAR future.

Suarez is in a contract year with Trackhouse Racing, which has Ross Chastain and Shane van Ginsberg under contract while Connor Zilisch is its development driver and on loan to several teams at lower national levels of NASCAR racing.

Trackhouse only has three Cup Series seats, math Suarez can’t ignore as he heads into Sunday ranked 28th in the standings.

“It’s not the first time that I’ve been in this position. Definitely the first time with the Mexico race, but it’s not the first time that I’ve been in the position that we have to win or in the position that we have a contract negotiation in the middle of the season,” Suarez said. “It’s definitely a distraction. I won’t sit here and tell you that it doesn’t really matter. I’m trying to be as smart as possible and to put all this stuff on the side and just do my thing on the track.”

Suarez, the only Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, has two Cup victories, three Xfinity Series wins and one Truck Series win. His 2016 championship in the second-tier Xfinity Series made him the only foreign-born driver to win a national series title.

Suarez has faced adversity before, but never like the pressure he’s feeling hoping to deliver in front of the local crowd. This weekend in Mexico is special to Suarez, who expects well over 100 of the spectators in attendance Sunday to be friends and family.

They’ve watched from afar as he’s worked his way into the NASCAR spotlight, a journey full of ups and downs that have seen Suarez drive for four different Cup teams. He joined Trackhouse Racing in 2021 and last year signed a one-year extension through 2025.

At the time, he said he wanted to reassess where the program was before signing a long-term deal. But it’s been a disappointing start to the season and his average finish of 21st is three spots worse than last year.

“The Mexico race is something that I’ve been hoping and waiting on for many, many years, and I’m not going to let anything else from outside take that week and that moment from myself,” Suarez said. “We have to just continue to put one foot in front of the other and continue to move forward. I think that in Trackhouse, we have found some decent speed in the last few weeks, so that’s promising, and hopefully we can continue to move in that direction.”

Suarez will have Mexican communication company Telcel on his car this weekend.

“For many years, I never had a sponsor deal with a company from Mexico because I wasn’t racing there,” Suarez said. “So right now that we’re going to be having an event down there, it opens a whole new world of opportunities and that’s great, obviously for me, but for the entire sport.”

It’s another layer of pressure for Suarez, who wants nothing more than to balance the demands of being the star of Sunday’s show with delivering a strong showing.

“Once we get into the race, we don’t want to deal with any of this stuff, and I just want to focus and have fun driving race cars,” he said. “There is going to be more on my plate just by nature, just being the local guy, the very first race ever in Mexico City in the Cup Series. I have to accept that. With that being said, I have to protect my space for the competition stuff because if we don’t do the competition stuff right, everything else doesn’t really matter. So we have to put a balance on everything.”

As Suarez noted, a win on Sunday would dramatically improve his hopes of remaining with Trackhouse on a contract extension. It could happen: Suarez’s first Cup victory came on the road course at Sonoma, and the next five Cup races include road-course races at Mexico City, Sonoma and the Chicago street course.

He admitted “honestly, I don’t know” about what he’d like out of a contract extension, but said he speaks regularly with team owner Justin Marks.

“The trajectory of Trackhouse has been tremendous,” Suárez said. “We have learned so many things. I really want to help Justin bring Trackhouse to the next level. I believe that 2022 has been our best year as a company, still. So why is that? Are we missing something? Do we have to change something? What do we need to do better? As a new team, to have your best years that early, it’s kind of uncommon. One of the reasons, I believe, was because of the new car. So I believe that we have to continue to grow.

“Ross just won a race a couple weeks ago, and that’s brought a lot of energy to the team and some more momentum. Before that, it was a little bit of a struggle. So we have to continue to find that speed in a consistent basis, just like the big teams,” he continued. “So we’re having all these conversations. I wish I didn’t have to have these conversations, and I didn’t have these distractions, but it’s part of life, right? Sometimes you have to do several things at the same time. But I’m trying not to think about it too much and trying to work in my job and push as hard as possible for competition and trying to help the team slowly get better and better.”

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• Samsara sponsors the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series, held for the first time in Mexico, with its technology supporting the Richard Childress Racing team and driver Jesse Love.

• NASCAR teams travel up to 120,000 kilometers a year transporting cars, engines, tools, and key parts.

MEXICO CITY, June 12, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsara Inc. (“Samsara”) (NYSE: IOT), the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, today announced its sponsorship of the first-ever NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series race in Mexico, taking place from June 13–15. The company, which contributes to the digital transformation of physical operations worldwide, is bringing this technological innovation to the race track, especially considering that NASCAR teams travel up to 120,000 kilometers a year transporting cars, engines, tools, and key parts.

“In a high-stakes race like NASCAR, everything needs to arrive in optimal condition. There’s a strong alignment between the goals of all participants in this race and the companies that use Samsara’s solutions. For our customers, every trip must leverage the power of artificial intelligence and data to achieve safer, more efficient, and more sustainable operations. Just as with the organizations we serve, real-time monitoring, smart cameras, predictive maintenance, and advanced data analytics allow a team like Richard Childress Racing (RCR) to focus on race strategy while technology handles every kilometer of their vehicles’ transport,” said Brendali Lopez, Marketing Director for Samsara in Mexico.

In addition to being an official sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series in Mexico, Samsara has sponsored the RCR team and its driver Jesse Love in the United States since 2023, redefining the role of logistics in professional motorsports. This time, the driver will compete again to achieve a high score that will allow him to move to the forefront of the championship on Saturday, June 14, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Samsara’s alliance with NASCAR represents a real-time demonstration of the power of operational intelligence to optimize high-performance fleets, reduce risks, and generate efficiencies that also positively impact the environment through more efficient routes and lower fuel consumption.

With this sponsorship, Samsara demonstrates that innovation does not limit to the speed on the race track, but also in every technological advancement that drives the teams.

“Our presence at NASCAR in Mexico isn’t just a bet on motorsports; it’s a declaration of what it means to have total visibility, predictive safety, and intelligent operations in motion,” Brendali Lopez concluded.

Story Continues

“Once we get into the race, we don’t want to deal with any of this stuff, and I just want to focus and have fun driving race cars,” he said. “There is going to be more on my plate just by nature, just being the local guy, the very first race ever in Mexico City in the Cup Series. I have to accept that. With that being said, I have to protect my space for the competition stuff because if we don’t do the competition stuff right, everything else doesn’t really matter. So we have to put a balance on everything.”

Dorman Products, Inc. will continue its long-standing relationship with NASCAR Cup Series operation Spire Motorsports, serving as a primary sponsor for the June 22 event at Pocono Raceway.

The company, which provides professionals, enthusiasts, and owners with more freedom to fix motor vehicles, will serve as the primary sponsor of No. 7 Chevrolet in the event, driven by 26-year-old Justin Haley.

“Our sponsorship with Spire Motorsports is something we put a lot of value in — not just for the exposure, but for what it represents,” said Steve Gisondi, Vice President of Marketing. “It’s a connection to a passionate community that shares our love for cars, performance, and problem-solving. Partnering with Spire Motorsports allows us to celebrate that shared spirit and be part of incredible events like the Pocono race.”

Haley returned to Spire Motorsports for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign after spending the first portion of his career at NASCAR’s top level with the organization.

The Winamac, Indiana-native is the only race-winner for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series, capturing a victory in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway — in what was his second Cup Series start.

Through the opening 15 events of the 2025 campaign, Haley sits 29th-place in NASCAR Cup Series points on the strength of a single top-10 result, a tenth at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Haley has made four career starts at NASCAR’s top level of Pocono, with a best finish of 21st coming in 2022 with Kaulig Racing. The driver has been paired with Spire Motorsports once at the 2.5-mile racetrack, finishing 27th in 2021.

“This is our fifth year partnering with Spire Motorsports and the No. 7 car at Pocono,” said Justin Hall, Director of Marketing Communications for Dorman Products. “This race delivers top-tier brand exposure, and we’re excited to be a part of this year’s event with Spire.

Despite this partnership being five years old, Pocono will mark the first time that Dorman Products has served as the primary sponsor for a NASCAR Cup Series event with Spire Motorsports.

The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM is set to take place on Sunday, June 22 at 2:00 PM ET on Prime Video, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and the Motor Racing Network (MRN).

• Following her rookie debut in 2024, Katherine Legge returns with goal of setting a new front-wheel-drive record
• U.S. Olympic speed skater Rusty Smith will pilot the official pace vehicle – an Integra Type S HRC Prototype
• Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) developed performance parts featured on both vehicles, leveraging the technical knowledge and expertise of HRC race engineers worldwide

Acura and Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) today announced a return to “America’s Mountain” for the 103rd running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, on June 22. Acura and HRC US will enter the highly competitive Time Attack 1 (TA1) division with the Integra Type S DE5 race car. Driving the #93 Integra is INDYCAR and IMSA veteran Katherine Legge who also returns to the ”Race to the Clouds” following a top-five finish in the TA1 category in 2024. Her rookie outing resulted in a time of 10:51.359, just a few seconds shy of the current front-wheel-drive record of 10:48.094 – set by Acura engineer and Pikes Peak veteran Nick Robinson with a 500-horsepower TLX in 2018.

“It was an honor to compete in Pikes Peak for the first time in 2024, as I had always dreamt of being among the famous drivers who have tackled the mountain,” said Katherine Legge, driver of the #93 Acura Integra Type S DE5. “At Pikes Peak, you’re always competing against yourself, the mountain and the other drivers. It’s my goal to leave my own legacy, setting the front-wheel drive record in the Integra Type S DE5.”

Additionally, Acura will supply the official pace car for the 103rd running of America’s longest running hill climb. The custom-wrapped Indy Yellow Acura Integra Type S HRC Prototype will pace the field on the challenging 156-turn, 12.42-mile mountain course, demonstrating a new line of HRC Performance Parts being developed by championship-winning HRC race engineers. Behind the wheel will be U.S. Olympic bronze-medalist speed skater, Rusty Smith.

Rusty Smith has made Team USA three times, competing in short track at the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998, Salt Lake City 2002, and Turin 2006. On the podium, Smith captured a 500-meter bronze medal in 2002 and a relay bronze medal alongside his teammates in 2006. Smith also shares a passion for high-performance Honda and Acura vehicles; he owns several enthusiast models from each brand, including a rare first-generation Acura NSX-T finished in Spa Yellow with a Vivid Yellow interior.

Smith’s stint in the Integra Type S HRC Prototype follows Honda’s announcement as a Founding Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Honda will also serve as the Official Automotive Partner of Team USA, supporting the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams during the LA28 Games and upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. LA28 plans for Honda and Acura vehicles to act as the official pace vehicles for all LA28 endurance events.

Motorsports, including the premium performance brand’s Pikes Peak efforts, is a critical component of Acura Precision Crafted Performance. This is the 15th consecutive year Acura is competing at Pikes Peak, with the Acura team amassing an impressive 12 first place in-division finishes, over 30 podiums and multiple course records.

Known as the Race to the Clouds, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado is one of America’s longest running motorsports competitions. Since 1916, drivers from all over the world race against the clock, in a wide variety of vehicles and from multiple motorsports disciplines, as they take on the grueling mountain course, starting at 9,390 feet and climbing to the 14,115-foot summit.

HRC Performance Parts
Based on strong interest generated by the Acura Integra Type S HRC Prototype, which was revealed at Monterey Car Week in August 2024, HRC announced that it will create a new business to produce authentic performance parts for customer use for street, track and off-road applications at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Southern California-based HRC US has been winning races and championships on and off-road for three decades and is applying this extensive know-how to a new line of authentic performance parts focused on enhancing all elements of the driving experience—
engine, suspension and braking performance—along with significant weight savings. As a successful racing brand for decades, HRC US is uniquely positioned to offer parts to retail customers in North America to enhance the performance of their own Honda and Acura vehicles.

Acura Integra Type S DE5
Eligible for competition in multiple racing series and sold directly to racers, HRC’s Integra Type S DE5 is designed, developed, and assembled inside Honda’s state-of-the-art North American facilities employing groundbreaking technologies in weld, body construction, painting, final assembly and quality confirmation to ensure the highest levels of precision and craftsmanship.

HRC developed the DE5 from the production Acura Integra Type S premium sports compact, and it is the latest in a line of highly successful, championship-winning, HRC-developed touring cars, including versions of the 10th generation Honda Civic Si and Type R and the 11th generation Civic Si FE1.

The competition version of the Integra Type S, which participates in the top class of SRO TC America racing where it won six races in its debut season, is powered by a modified version of the factory 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder K20C8 engine. The racing version of the engine, co-developed by HRC US and HRC Japan, produces in excess of 360hp. That power is then directed to the wheels via a 6-speed sequential, paddle-shift transmission to HRC US developed suspension and brakes.

The purpose-built body shell removes all unneeded street vehicle components – such as soundproofing, underbody coating and seam sealers – and is fitted with a safety roll cage, aerodynamic components and cooling upgrades.

About Acura
Acura is a leading premium auto brand committed to delivering expressive styling, innovative engineering and engaging dynamics, all built on the brand’s Precision Crafted Performance DNA. The Acura lineup consists of two sport sedans, the Integra and TLX, and four sport-utility vehicles, the first-ever ADX, RDX, MDX and all-electric ZDX. High-performance Type S variants further demonstrate the virtues of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.

More information about Acura is available here: https://acuranews.com/en-US. 

About Acura Motorsports
Acura motorsports programs in North America have been integral to the brand since its launch in 1986. The rich legacy of Acura sports car racing includes multiple GT and prototype wins and championships across Camel Lights, the American Le Mans series, SRO, and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition. In current IMSA competition, Acura swept the 2019, 2020 and 2022 IMSA manufacturer, driver and teams championships.

In 2023, Acura made its successful racing debut with the electrified ARX-06 prototype sports car in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and claimed Acura’s third consecutive Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona victory at the Daytona International Speedway. In 2025, the electrified Acura ARX-06 returns with Acura Meyer Shank Racing running the #60 and #93 cars. Honda Racing USA will be strategizing and race engineering the #93 for the first time in the company’s history, while Acura MSR will continue to do the same for the #60 as Acura seeks its first championship title in the electrified era of sports car racing.

About Honda Racing Corporation USA
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US), has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since its founding in 1993 as Honda Performance Development (HPD). In January 2024, HPD became HRC US, combining with HRC Japan to strengthen the company’s overall motorsports capabilities. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA sports cars to commercial racing programs, HRC US leads all Honda and Acura high-performance racing programs in North America and will be involved in Formula One power unit development and race support related to the next phase of Honda starting in 2026.

HRC US specializes in the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. The company also offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsports racers; and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and quarter midgets to the highest levels of professional racing.

https://hondaracing-us.honda.com

About LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games
The LA28 Games will mark Los Angeles’ third time hosting the Olympic Games, previously hosting in 1984 and 1932, and first time to host the Paralympic Games. Los Angeles will host the world’s most elite athletes in 2028 as it welcomes Paralympians and Olympians from around the world to compete on the biggest stage in sports. The LA28 Games are independently operated by a privately funded, nonprofit organization, with revenue from corporate partners, licensing agreements, hospitality and ticketing programs, and a significant contribution from the International Olympic Committee.

About Team USA
Team USA is the world’s largest and most diverse team of athletes from across the United States who compete at the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, founded in 1894, serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and is responsible for protecting, supporting and empowering Team USA athletes. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.

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