Local hero Daniel Suarez takes dramatic last to first NASCAR Xfinity Mexico win

Daniel Suarez did one thing unbelievable on Saturday, incomes a dramatic victory within the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence’ long-awaited return to Mexico Metropolis. He did all of it in a backup automotive, beginning thirty ninth earlier than steadily marching by the sphere.

“That is very particular,” mentioned Suarez. “That is very, very particular to be right here in entrance of my individuals. All these individuals have supported me for a lot of, a few years. They’ve liked me since my NASCAR Mexico days. And now we’re combating with the large boys, so it feels good.”

The ultimate stage went inexperienced with 19 laps to go and that is when the pivotal second got here. Suarez, who restarted fourth, despatched it on the surface in a three-wide transfer for the lead into Flip 1. He took the highest spot by power as chaos ensued behind him. The 2 quickest automobiles all day had been closely broken as each Connor Zilisch and Ty Gibbs crashed. A number of different drivers had been collected within the melee by Turns 1 and a couple of whereas Suarez escaped unscathed.

The next restart was a lot cleaner as Suarez held onto the highest spot. Regardless of the harm, Zilisch drove his wounded automotive again by the sphere, setting the quickest lap of all drivers. Suarez was cruising, however in fact, a warning with seven laps to go for an incident involving Jesse Love set-up a mad sprint to the end.

Suarez needed to maintain on in one other hectic restart with Grey drawing even with him, slamming doorways by Turns 1 and a couple of. Suarez ran off into the grass as a result of contact, however held onto the race lead. Grey by no means let him get too far-off, shadowing him all through the closing laps. On the ultimate lap, Grey went for a mega lunge into the ultimate nook, however saved it clear as Suarez escaped with the victory in hand.

Grey completed second, Austin Hill third, Christian Eckes fourth, and Zilisch fifth. William Sawalich completed sixth, Austin Inexperienced seventh, Jeb Burton eighth, Harrison Burton ninth, and Sammy Smith tenth.

Phases 1 and a couple of

Daniel Suarez, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures

The race obtained underway with Zilisch ranging from pole place. Suarez didn’t wait to start his march, shortly shifting from thirty ninth to twenty fifth by the point the primary warning flew on Lap 3. That was for Sam Mayer, who spun into the boundaries.

Zilisch misplaced the lead after getting bumped out of the best way, however he shortly rebounded as a tense struggle for the lead performed out between himself and Gibbs. They, together with a number of different frontrunners selected to short-pit, selecting monitor place over stage factors. Carson Kvapil was amongst those that stayed out, successful Stage 1 win.

A number of drivers suffered mechanical points within the opening stage, together with Justin Allgaier Jeremy Clements, and 2020 NASCAR Mexico champion Ruben Rovelo.

In the beginning of Stage 2, Suarez shortly moved from seventh to 3rd with a daring lunge into Flip 1, but it surely was Zilisch was the motive force in charge of the race.

There have been numerous single-car spins, however no cautions for trigger through the second stage. Of observe, Hill suffered a reduce tire that put him to the tail-end of the lead lap. As drivers once more selected to short-pit, Christopher Bell’s engine blew whereas operating third. He limped into the pits and pulled to the facet, permitting the stage to finish below inexperienced flag situations.

Sammy Smith claimed the Stage 2 win as Zilisch and Gibbs had a dramatic race off pit street, operating side-by-side by the pit exit. Zilisch prevailed, however initially of the ultimate stage, each he and Gibbs would see their shot at a win slip away by the beforehand talked about chaos.

After Suarez’s three-wide transfer to take the lead with 19 laps to go, he by no means relinquished the highest spot once more. That is his first Xfinity successful the 2016 finale at Homestead, the place he additionally received the championship. He now has 4 profession victories within the Xfinity Sequence.

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