Here's Everything You Need To Know About NASCAR Driver Daniel Suárez

Of the many drivers on USA Network’s “Race For The Championship” none have had such a geographically long road to get to the NASCAR Cup Series than the show’s only international driver, Daniel Suárez. 

Originally from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, the 30-year-old driver became the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race by taking the first position at Sonoma Raceway in 2022. He is no stranger to that kind of historical success. In 2016, he became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, ultimately taking the entire championship that year. 

Now in the 2022 Cup Series, Suárez hopes to make good on the promise of his past success and continue his rocket ride to NASCAR acclaim. Like many pro drivers, he initially got the racing bug as a child in 2003 when a family friend took him kart racing. Over the next few years, he dedicated himself to karting and became a two-time Mexican national champion in 2004 and 2008, according to his website. 

However, he knew that if he wanted to reach greater heights in motorsports, he couldn't just stop there. So, in 2008, he augmented his already robust karting schedule with a full schedule of mini-stock races in an official NASCAR Peak Mexico support series. Being the talented driver he is, Suárez finished the season with the most wins of any driver and returned part-time in 2009.

He made his NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series debut on Sept. 6, 2009 at Autodromo Miguel E. Abed in Amozoc, Mexico. He kept with that circuit and won the 2010 Rookie of the Year award. By 2011, he was ready to race in the U.S at the Toyota All-Star Showdown. 

After financing fell through in the U.S., he returned to Mexico and continued in the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series. However, he knew his goals were in the U.S. and dedicated himself to keeping up that schedule while commuting to North Carolina to compete in feeder division races on NASCAR’s national touring series. He was determined to make the move to racing in the states full-time and traveled a lot to get on the track and make it happen, all while maintaining his presence in Mexico. 

He picked up several wins while moving through divisions. Suárez then participated in NASCAR’s Drive For Diversity program and earned himself some well-deserved recognition and acclaim. By 2014, Joe Gibbs Racing took notice and gave him a contract. Just like that, Suárez had worked his way to an established U.S. NASCAR team. 

Shockingly, he continued to maintain a presence in Mexico’s racing scene while commuting to the U.S. for the Xfinity Series, ARCA, and the Truck Series. His performance earned him a full-time spot in the 2015 Xfinity Series season where he drove to impress and earned another Rookie of the Year accolade. He followed that up with a full series win in 2016 before eventually making the move to the NASCAR Cup Series where he joins the crop of other “Race For The Championship” stars today. 

“Race For The Championship” airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network. Meanwhile, you can catch NASCAR content on Peacock right now.