Daniel Suárez likes his chances to win for a second time at Sonoma. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)
SONOMA, Calif. – After righting a Helter Skelter like stretch with a seventh place result at Gateway, Daniel Suárez enters Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway with incredible, sincere confidence.
For a driver who has not won since last year’s race at the 1.99-mile, 12-turn road course, the 31-year-old Monterey, Mexico native seems more like a man on a mission. After all, he is the defending winner and is adept at road courses.
“Definitely, man,” Suárez said in a team press release. “Every time we head to a road course, whether it’s Sonoma, or somewhere else, I am excited. I feel at home and I am excited to go back to a place where we had great memories last time and hopefully we can repeat it.
“Sunday’s race at St. Louis was great for us. It was a good solid run from start to finish. We just need to build on it.”
The driver of the No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 kicked off the race weekend on a strong note, qualifying in ninth after posting the 20th fastest time in Saturday’s practice session. Moreover, he starts essentially near the same position as last year’s Sonoma race, when he started eighth to tally an emotional, popular victory.
Although the box score shows that Suárez finished 27th at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, earlier this year, he was among the top, fastest drivers at the FIA Grade 1 road course. When asked about his chances to defend and win again at the Northern California, FIA Grade 2 serpentine track, Suárez expressed himself with an earnest tone.
“Of course we can,” he said. “We have a very good road course program. You saw how fast we were at COTA.”
Much like last year’s race, Suárez enters the 110 lap race at Sonoma ranked inside the top 20 points standings. Sure, he can point his way into the Playoffs but a victory would be icing on the cake.
For any driver in the Cup Series or motorsports, in general, winning for the first time is as special as it gets. Similarly, Suárez recalled how emotional his win was, especially when he considered his journey to the U.S. and NASCAR.
Daniel Suárez is brimming with confidence ahead of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)
“I was just trying to stay calm,” he said. “I knew that it was a big stake on the line, but I was trying to stay calm. I was silent. I wanted to do my thing. I didn’t want too much noise on the radio. I knew what I had to do. I would say after the white flag is when I got out of control.
“I just start crying inside the helmet, just thinking about it. Especially because I had a big gap. If it wasn’t a big gap, I would be focused. Since I had a big gap, I was just thinking about every single moment that has cost me to be here.”
The NASCAR Drive for Diversity and Rev Racing graduate did not cost himself any chances to win, instead building on his lead and eventual win over Chris Buescher by 3.489 seconds.
Namely, Suárez wanted to win not just for himself but for his support system. Learning English by watching cartoons and acclimating to the close quarters, paint trading ways of NASCAR through baptism by fire, he paid his dues and proved his place and worth in stock car’s highest level.
“It’s been a different journey,” he said. “Every NASCAR driver has had a tough journey. Everyone has a different journey. But my journey is definitely the most different of everyone else, leaving my family, my country, and just coming to a different culture, different language.
“Thinking of all those things, it makes it very, very, very special.”
With a second career Cup win looking very possible for Suárez and his No. 99 team, Sunday’s race may be just as or even more poignant as last year’s winning celebration at Sonoma.
A victory on Sunday at Sonoma may be as special and emotional for Suárez and his No. 99 team. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)
Likewise, Suárez wants to continue to prove himself as his core support stand by him to this day, persevering through some of the difficult times, like in 2020, to his competitive, frontrunning ways in 2023.
“I mean, it was a rough road getting to victory lane but that moment was so worth it,” Suárez said. “Not just for me but for my family, Julia, these guys believe in me – Trackhouse Racing, Justin Marks, Ty Norris. Everyone that helped me to get to this point.
“A lot of people in Mexico – Jay Morales and Carlos Slim. My family, they never give up on me. A lot of people did, but they didn’t. I was just very happy we were able to make it work.”
