Daniel Suarez wins at Sonoma to become first Mexican-born driver with NASCAR Cup Series victory

SONOMA, Calif. — Daniel Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday, holding off Chris Buescher for a historic victory at Sonoma Raceway.

Suarez, a 30-year-old from Monterrey, finally won in the 195th career start of a Cup Series career that began in 2017. He also drove his Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet to the third Cup Series victory of the season for the rising 2-year-old team co-owned by former driver Justin Marks and music star Pitbull.

Suarez got past Buescher and took charge early in the final stage on this hilly road course in Northern California wine country, and he persevered through a pit stop and a caution to emerge in front with 23 laps to go. Buescher pushed him aggressively, but Suarez made no significant mistakes while rolling to victory.

«It's crazy,» Suarez said. «I have so many thoughts in my head right now. It's been a rough journey in the Cup Series, and these guys believed in me. I have a lot of people to thank in Mexico. My family, they never gave up on me. A lot of people did, but they didn't. I'm just happy we were able to make it work.»

Suarez's team partied wildly when it was over, even pulling out a celebratory pinata shaped like a taco. The pinata was requested by Suarez for whenever he got his first win and clinched a spot in the playoffs — and he celebrated by punching a hole through it with his fist.

«They believed in me since Day One,'' Suarez said of his team. „[We've got] all the people, all the resources to make it happen.''

Suarez then addressed his fans briefly in Spanish, saying: “This is the first one of many.''

Buescher's second-place finish was also a season best in his RFK Racing Ford. He fell just short of his second career victory.

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