{"id":3751,"date":"2016-06-11T20:41:50","date_gmt":"2016-06-12T01:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=3751"},"modified":"2016-06-12T21:12:50","modified_gmt":"2016-06-13T02:12:50","slug":"mexican-driver-daniel-suarez-scores-breakthrough-victory-at-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2016\/06\/11\/mexican-driver-daniel-suarez-scores-breakthrough-victory-at-michigan\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexican driver Daniel Suarez scores breakthrough victory at Michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/b><\/p>\n

BROOKLYN, Mich. \u2013 Daniel Suarez was speechless\u2014and justifiably so.<\/p>\n

\"Daniel

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Mexican driver had just passed Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch for the lead on the next-to-last lap and held on to win Saturday\u2019s Menards 250 presented by Valvoline NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Michigan International Speedway by .280 seconds over the man who sets the standard in the series.<\/p>\n

The first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, Suarez overcame a pit road speeding penalty assessed on Lap 29 of 125 under the first of three cautions. He restarted eighth after the third caution on Lap 91, caught and passed Elliott Sadler for second place with 10 laps left and ran down Busch for the lead on Lap 124.<\/p>\n

“I just have no words,” said Suarez, an alumnus of NASCAR\u2019s Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Next programs. “I don\u2019t think I can speak English or Spanish right now. I have no words for what I\u2019m feeling right now.<\/p>\n

“This machine is unbelievable. It\u2019s unbelievably fast\u2014definitely the fastest car out there. I have no words to describe what I\u2019m feeling right now. It\u2019s just unbelievable.”<\/p>\n

Though Suarez was reveling in the moment, he made special mention of JGR teammate and fourth-place finisher Erik Jones, whose father passed away at age 53 on Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer. Erik\u2019s No. 20 Toyota carried the name of his father, Dave Jones, painted above the window of his car.<\/p>\n

“I would like to dedicate this victory to Erik and his family,” Suarez said.<\/p>\n

Behind Suarez and Busch, Paul Menard finished third, followed by Jones and Sadler.<\/p>\n

\"Daniel

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Kena Krutsinger\/Getty Images )<\/p><\/div>\n

In passing Busch for the win, Suarez beat the best. Busch holds the XFINITY Series record for victories with 80. And Busch has been a willing mentor to Suarez, who also drives a limited schedule for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.<\/p>\n

“The Kyle Busch School of Charm finished 1-2-4 today, so not too bad,” said Busch, who led 88 laps. “Obviously we want to win. We thought we should have won. We had the best car for the majority of the race there, but not the last 20 laps or so\u2014just got really loose on me.<\/p>\n

“But congratulations to Daniel Suarez. He earned that one. It\u2019s cool to see. It\u2019s a little bittersweet to lose like that, but it\u2019s all right. It\u2019s one of my students. So the student beat the teacher today.”<\/p>\n

The speeding penalty wasn\u2019t the only obstacle Suarez had to overcome. As he was working his way back to the front after the infraction, the clutch in his No. 19 Toyota failed, causing the car to stall during a green-flag pit stop on Lap 71.<\/p>\n

\"Daniel

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, races Paul Menard, driver of the #2 Richmond\/Menards Chevrolet, during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio\/Getty Images )<\/p><\/div>\n

“In the second half of the race, the clutch was gone,” said Suarez, who increased his lead in the series standings to 18 points over Sadler.<\/p>\n

Fortunately for Suarez, the clutch wasn\u2019t an issue over the final 33 laps as he chased and ultimately overtook Busch.<\/p>\n

“He made a statement today that he’s the real deal,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr., who served as a guest commentator on the Fox Sports 1 broadcast. “I think a lot of people knew that, but if they didn’t, they found out today.”<\/p>\n

Note: \u00a0Additional photos from Getty Images and NASCAR are posted after race results.<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race – Menards 250 presented by Valvoline<\/b><\/p>\n

Michigan International Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Brooklyn, Michigan<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, June 11, 2016<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1. (6) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2. (5) Kyle Busch(i), Toyota, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3. (12) Paul Menard(i), Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4. (2) Erik Jones #, Toyota, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5. (3) Elliott Sadler, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6. (9) Joey Logano(i), Ford, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7. (1) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8. (4) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9. (17) Darrell Wallace Jr, Ford, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10. (15) Brandon Jones #, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11. (8) Brennan Poole #, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 12. (10) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 13. (7) Blake Koch, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 14. (11) Ryan Reed, Ford, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16. (18) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17. (20) Garrett Smithley #, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 18. (14) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 19. (24) Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 125.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20. (21) JJ Yeley, Toyota, 124.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 21. (22) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 124.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 22. (16) Justin Marks, Chevrolet, 124.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 23. (26) Ray Black Jr #, Chevrolet, 123.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 24. (19) Dakoda Armstrong, Toyota, 122.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25. (29) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 121.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26. (30) Harrison Rhodes, Dodge, 120.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 27. (37) Martin Roy, Chevrolet, 118.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 28. (31) TJ Bell, Chevrolet, 117.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 29. (36) Mike Harmon, Dodge, 116.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 30. (38) Todd Peck, Ford, 116.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31. (32) Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, 115.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32. (35) Chris Cockrum, Chevrolet, Accident, 82.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 33. (23) Jeff Green, Toyota, Transmission, 75.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 34. (28) BJ McLeod #, Ford, Transmission, 70.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 35. (33) Mario Gosselin, Chevrolet, Vibration, 41.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 36. (34) Morgan Shepherd, Chevrolet, Oil Leak, 16.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 37. (39) John Jackson, Toyota, Clutch, 13.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 38. (40) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, Overheating, 11.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 39. (27) Josh Wise(i), Chevrolet, Rear Gear, 8.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 40. (25) Matt DiBenedetto(i), Toyota, Rear Gear, 3.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:\u00a0 155.952 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:\u00a0 01 Hrs, 36 Mins, 11 Secs. Margin of Victory:\u00a0 0.280 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:\u00a0 3 for 14 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:\u00a0 11 among 7 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:\u00a0\u00a0 A. Bowman 1-11; E. Jones # 12-28; E. Sadler 29; J. Yeley 30; K. Busch(i) 31-67; E. Jones # 68; P. Menard(i) 69; D. Suarez 70-71; K. Busch(i) 72-99; E. Sadler 100; K. Busch(i) 101-123; D. Suarez 124-125.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):\u00a0 K. Busch(i) 3 times for 88 laps; E. Jones # 2 times for 18 laps; A. Bowman 1 time for 11 laps; D. Suarez 2 times for 4 laps; E. Sadler 2 times for 2 laps; P. Menard(i) 1 time for 1 lap; J. Yeley 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Top 10 in Points: D. Suarez – 452; E. Sadler – 434; T. Dillon – 416; E. Jones # – 397; J. Allgaier – 388; B. Jones # – 388; B. Gaughan – 386; B. Poole # – 373; D. Wallace Jr – 340; R. Reed – 301.<\/p>\n

\"Alex

Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Vannoy Construction Chevrolet, and Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Ty

Ty Dillon, driver of the #3 Rheem Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio\/Getty Images )<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Brennan

Brennan Poole, driver of the #48 DC Solar Chevrolet, races Brendan Gaughan, driver of the #62 South Point Chevrolet, during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alex

Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Vannoy Construction Chevrolet, and Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio\/Getty Images )<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Kyle

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota, races during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio\/Getty Images )<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Erik

Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota, races Elliott Sadler, driver of the #1 OneMain Chevrolet, during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jerry Markland\/Getty Images )<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Daniel

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, passes Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota, during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"BROOKLYN,

BROOKLYN, MI – JUNE 11: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service BROOKLYN, Mich. \u2013 Daniel Suarez was speechless\u2014and justifiably so. The Mexican driver had just passed Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch for the lead on the next-to-last lap and held on to win Saturday\u2019s Menards 250 presented by Valvoline NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Michigan International Speedway by .280 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3756,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[259,16,181],"class_list":["post-3751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-daniel-suarez","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/MIS_NCWTS_Suarez_VL_061116.jpg?fit=5045%2C3364&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-Yv","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3751"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3765,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3751\/revisions\/3765"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}