NASCAR Race Mom: Daniel Suárez's #NASCAR Dream Materializes

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Daniel Suárez's #NASCAR Dream Materializes

Daniel Suárez's #NASCAR Dream Materializes In his own Words

NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, left, talks about adding NASCAR driver
Daniel Suarez, right, to his team during a press conference at Joe Gibbs Racing
on January 11, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Bob Leverone/Getty Images)

After NASCAR Veteran Carl Edwards confirmed his plans to retire immediately, his successor shares his thoughts on being named to take over the No. 19 Camry.

"This is amazing. I wasn't expecting to be in this position right now. It's been an amazing time. This is hard to believe that I'm in this position. We started all this dream 10 years ago with NASCAR, and right now to be in this position, to be in this opportunity is just something amazing for me and for everyone that has been helping me, of course.

I know that it won't be easy. We have a lot to work. I have a lot to learn. But I'm sure that it couldn't happen in a better situation with Dave Rogers and the entire 19 group. It's just an amazing team. I feel like it's just a perfect place to be for a rookie like me that is really hungry to learn and to go out there and to perform well.

Really, as well, I want to thank a lot of people that helped me to get to this point. My family, of course; Coach Gibbs and the entire Joe Gibbs Racing family, for trusting me years ago, a kid from México, that barely was speaking English. Obviously my sponsors, ARRIS, Stanley, Subway, Interstate Batteries, Coca-Cola, and of course Toyota. I can't wait to drive that car, and that's sharp. That's just unbelievable. I wish I could take it to the street right now.

And as well, everyone in México. Everyone in México, they've been supporting me, not just right now, but when we started all this journey more than 10 years ago, it's been amazing, Jimmy Morales, Carlos Slim, Gustavo Arenas, the entire Sabates family, NASCAR for the amazing support through the Drive 4 Diversity program. It's been an amazing journey, and I can't wait for the future. Thank you very much, everyone."

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 Interstate Batteries Toyota, celebrates in Victory
Lane after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive Sober 200 at Dover
International Speedway on October 2, 2016 in Dover, Delaware.
(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Image)

By The Numbers - Daniel Suárez's NASCAR National Series Career

First NASCAR national series start was at Richmond International Raceway on April 25, 2014 driving for car owner Joe Gibbs in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Suárez started the race 12th and finished 19th in his NASCAR national series debut.

1 – Number of NASCAR XFINITY Series championships (2016)
1 – Number of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wins
3 – Number of NASCAR XFINITY Series wins – all last season
6 – Number of NASCAR XFINITY Series career Coors Light poles
10 – Number of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career top-five finishes
25 – Number of years old; Suárez is 25 years, 0 months and 4 days old on January 11, 2017
27 – Number of NASCAR XFINITY Series career top-five finishes
27 – Number of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career starts
45 – Number of NASCAR XFINITY Series career top-10 finishes
68 – Number of NASCAR XFINITY Series career starts
95 – Number of NASCAR national series career starts
263 – Number of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career laps led
430 – Number of NASCAR XFINITY Series career laps led
4,255 – Number of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career laps completed
11,868 – Number of NASCAR XFINITY Series career laps completed

This guy is looking very good! (Talking about the car!😂) pic.twitter.com/tC8030rEgF
— Daniel Suárez (@Daniel_SuarezG) January 17, 2017

Additional Career Highlights

• Daniel Suárez won his first NASCAR XFINITY Series championship in 2016; becoming the 27th different driver to win the title.
• Daniel Suárez is the first Latin American driver to win a NASCAR national series championship.
• Suárez won the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to claim the 2016 series title in the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase.
• Suárez made 33 starts this season, posting three wins, 19 top fives and 27 top 10s and three Coors Light poles during his championship season.
• Suárez has become the first graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program to win a NASCAR XFINITY Series championship.