Daniel Suárez wins NASCAR Xfinity Series in front of home fans in Mexico City

MEXICO CITY — For Daniel Suárez, los sueños se hacen realidad.

His dreams came true on Saturday in Mexico City, with the Mexico native scoring a stirring victory in front of his home fans upon NASCAR’s first Xfinity Series race south of the border since 2008.

Suárez crashed hard in qualifying early Saturday at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and was forced into a backup car with his JR Motorsports entry, with the team taking more than three hours to rebuild the car. The bare-looking backup only arrived at the grid 30 minutes before the race.

Then Suárez electrified the crowd by becoming the first driver in any series in NASCAR history to go from last to first in a road course race (according to historian Seth Eggert).

Suárez said the win ranked with his greatest career moments, like winning the 2016 Xfinity Series title.

“Just the fact we have this amazing race here means the world,” Suárez said. “You know how excited I have been to be here and to have you (NASCAR) guys here. Just over 10 years ago, I left this country, just trying to find an opportunity in the United States with nothing. I just feel very blessed and happy for everything we were able to accomplish today.”

Suárez held off Taylor Gray to win on a late restart with four laps to go after Gray forced him off the track and into the grass; NASCAR did not penalize Suárez for cutting the course due to the contact from Gray.

“I didn’t mean to obviously run him into the grass,” Gray said. “Just ran out of room.”

Suárez has dreamed of bringing NASCAR back to Mexico ever since he entered the national series ranks. He did not speak any English when he moved to the United States and made it to the Cup Series, but has had a rollercoaster career — twice losing his ride but also winning two Cup races.

He hopes to do so again Sunday, when NASCAR will hold its first international points race for the Cup Series since 1958.

However, as part of NASCAR’s trip to Mexico, Suárez also entered the Xfinity Series race (NASCAR’s equivalent of Triple A baseball). The day couldn’t have gone worse at the beginning, as Suárez overcooked his entry speed into the famous stadium section and smashed his car into the safety barriers, destroying the front end.

That seemingly left him out of contention, as no one had previously accomplished a worst-to-first on a non-oval in NASCAR history. Except Suárez, in storybook manner, somehow pulled it off.

“I have never experienced what I experienced today,” Suárez said. “When I took the lead, I was able to hear the people like they were right here (next to him). I got goosebumps and I felt so blessed. I have never had that feeling in my life.”

As the Mexican fans cheered over the noise of the engines, Suárez celebrated with a long burnout and then climbed from his car to salute the crowd, pumping his fist, pounding his chest and showing a thank-you gesture to his supporters.

Suárez grabbed a Mexican flag to celebrate, then stood atop the top step of NASCAR’s victory podium — in the style of Formula One — as Mexico’s national anthem played.

“Unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” said NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is co-owner of JR Motorsports. “Daniel is so beloved here and he has a lot of pride, a lot of national pride, so good to see him have success.

“There’s a lot of pressure on him. I can’t imagine him coming here and feeling the pressure to perform and succeed in front of his fans. I’m so thankful that he’s able to enjoy this moment.”

Said NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps: “It’s great for NASCAR in Mexico. It’s great for NASCAR around the world. He’s a great guy, a champion. Very happy for him and (wife) Julia (Piquet) and the whole team. It’s a special moment.”

(Photo: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)