NASCAR
NASCAR’s First International Champion is Now a U.S. Citizen
Nobody in NASCAR’s current crop of drivers has endured a longer and more circuitous journey than Daniel Suarez. 12 years after moving to America on a whim and a prayer, Suarez has seen success at every NASCAR level. The fan favorite is now a step closer to achieving a great personal milestone.
On April 29, Mexico-born Daniel Suarez successfully passed the U.S. Citizenship test, crossing the finish line to become a dual resident.
At Darlington Raceway, Suarez said “Let me give you a chair, do you want to sit down because it’s going to take a little bit. It’s a long process man, very long process and actually you know in a way I’m glad it’s a long process, because it shouldn’t be easy. I think that this is one of the best countries in the world and it shouldn’t be easy.”
“I do think it should be a little bit cheaper, it’s pretty expensive to do the whole thing, but listen I’ve been here already for 12 years and until now I’m actually becoming a citizen. I could have done it sooner if I wanted to, but I never pushed the times as much as I could have.”
“But yeah I moved here with a tourist visa and then eventually I got a work visa and eventually I got a green card. And then after five years I had the option to apply for the citizenship. So it’s been a 10 or 12 year process for me.”
A swearing in ceremony is all that now stands between Daniel Suarez and officially being a United States citizen.
Suarez initially moved to the United States in 2011, racing part-time in what is now ARCA East. This move came with very few connections and a limited grasp of English. The young racer used Saturday morning cartoons to help master a second language. His NASCAR National Series debut came with Joe Gibbs Racing in an Xfinity car at Richmond Raceway in 2014. Following 2015 Rookie of the Year honors in Xfinity, Suarez turned three wins into the 2016 Xfinity title. He became the first international champion in NASCAR history.
Suarez was chosen to replace the suddenly-retired Carl Edwards at Joe Gibbs Racing entering the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series. Suarez moved to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2019, before spending the next year at Gaunt Brothers Racing. 2021 saw Suarez become the maiden driver for the newly-formed Trackhouse Racing, where he has piloted the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro ever since. Suarez’s first Cup Series win came at Sonoma Raceway in 2022, before winning a photo finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this year. Whenever Suarez is victorious again, he will have fans from two nations celebrating.
See his full interview about his journey to U.S. citizenship below:
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports
