That doesn’t imply the journey wasn’t a troublesome one, nevertheless.
Suarez debuted in NASCAR competitors in his native Mexico in 2009 and have become the primary Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR nationwide sequence race in 2016 together with his Xfinity Collection victory at Michigan.
His NASCAR future appeared on a quick observe. He was among the many first success tales to return out of NASCAR’s Drive for Range program and he went on to win the 2016 Xfinity championship with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Simply as Suarez was about to embark on a second season in Xfinity, Carl Edwards abruptly left NASCAR, leaving JGR with a Cup experience to fill for the 2017 season. The group turned to Suarez as Edwards’ substitute.
Though there have been loads of flashes of potential, Suarez by no means appeared to search out the identical success in Cup, whether or not it was at JGR, Stewart-Haas Racing or Gaunt Brothers Racing.
Slightly over a 12 months working together with his latest crew, Trackhouse Racing, Suarez has lastly discovered what he’s been trying to find in NASCAR’s premier sequence – a victory.
Suarez took the lead in Sunday’s race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway with 22 of 110 laps remaining and cruised to victory over Chris Buescher, incomes his first victory in 195 profession begins.
Making historical past
With the win, Suarez turned the primary Mexican driver to win within the Cup Collection since its inception in 1949.
“You recognize, it has value me lots to get thus far. Lots of people don’t know that, however it has value me lots to get to this nation first 10 years in the past, and to get thus far, combating,” Saurez, 30, mentioned. “I come from a really humble household. Each step of my life has value me lots.
“I knew that it’s necessary to keep in mind that if I used to be capable of come all the way in which right here, I wasn’t going to surrender right here. My confidence was excessive.
“However clearly understanding that you simply haven’t gained but, there’s a little little bit of doubt. However I knew that I used to be quick. I knew that I may race with them, with the blokes which are successful. However I hadn’t confirmed that first victory.”
Though a brand new crew, Trackhouse Racing had proven to be aggressive since its debut final season.
Even with the introduction of the Subsequent Gen automobile this 12 months, the crew nonetheless has been among the many most constantly quick week-in and week-out.
The group picked up its first wins earlier this season with two journeys to Victory Lane by Suarez’s teammate, Ross Chastain.
Overcoming misfortune
Whereas Suarez’s No. 99 crew appeared to hit roadblock after roadblock to a win, he mentioned he nonetheless knew he was with a crew able to producing wins.
“I instructed my crew, you recognize, the final 5 weeks we’ve got had very quick race automobiles, however issues occur. The jack broke final week. In Charlotte we have been the quickest automobile and we have been lacking one thing on pit highway each single time,” he mentioned.
“However on the finish my crew, everybody, we stayed collectively. We hold pushing. I instructed them that unhealthy luck doesn’t final endlessly, and difficult folks do. We stored working very arduous and right here we’re.”
The win couldn’t have come at a greater time for Suarez.
Whereas he had proven to have quick automobiles this season, his crew’s erratic outcomes had left him at risk of lacking the playoffs with no victory.
Now, he has his first win and a chance to compete for a Cup Collection championship.
“At the moment was superb. We did a number of issues proper. However we believed that our automobile may have been somewhat bit higher,” Suarez mentioned.
“So, once you take a look at the massive image and all the time attempt to see your self as what I may have achieved higher or totally different, that’s once you turn out to be an excellent crew. I really feel like we’re on our method there.”