Suarez earns historic NASCAR XFINITY win with thrilling last lap pass

Daniel Suarez celebrates his win after the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.
Daniel Suarez celebrates his win after the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.
Daniel Suarez celebrates his win after the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Daniel Suarez didn’t just win his first career NASCAR win Saturday, he earned it. Suarez passed one of the absolute best drivers in NASCAR on the final lap and went onto become the first Mexican born driver in NASCAR history to win in a NASCAR national series  event winning the NASCAR XFINITY series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

“I just have no words honestly,” Suarez said. “I don’t think I can speak English or Spanish right now honestly. I can’t thank these guys enough for all the hard work – Joe Gibbs Racing for having the confidence in me along with Toyota, Telcel Mexico, Coca-Cola and everyone who helped put this program together. I have no words to describe what I’m feeling right now.”

Suarez overcame a pit road speeding penalty on lap 29 and fought his way back from 25th and passed Elliott Sadler in the final laps and soon had his sights on race leader Kyle Busch.  Busch had led a race high 88 laps, but had nothing for his fellow Joe Gibbs Racing driver as Suarez caught him as the two streaked towards the white flag.  Suarez had the spot by a quarter panel as the two entered turn 1 and was clear as they exited turn 2.  From there Suarez was able to hold Busch at bay and cross the line for his first career victory.  He becomes the series’ sixth foreign-born winner in his 48th career start.

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Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.