Daniel Suarez ran down teammate and all-time Xfinity winner, Kyle Busch, to reel in his first NASCAR Xfintiy Series victory and remain atop the point standings. Busch and his #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota was once again out in front with under ten laps to go to close out the Menards 250 at Michigan Speedway when Daniel Suarez put his peddle to the metal.
Lap by lap and a tenth of a second at a time, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver closed the gap on the veteran speedster. With the wave of the white flag that signifies the final lap, the #19 ARRIS Toyota, driven by Daniel Suarez, blew passed Busch and took the checkered flag. He not only claimed his first Xfinity win of his career, but became the first Mexican-born racer to win in the series. The first-time winner was elated and proud of the effort he and his team put in to the race.
“When I was able to go through the field all the way to fifth, I said, ‘Man, we can have a shot here.’ And then clutch happened. So, it seemed like there were a lot of little details that were saying, ‘Maybe today’s not the day.’ But I was just disappointed and I was pushing hard and (I) thank God and all these guys we made it happen.” Daniel Suarez said.
“I just have no words honestly. I don’t think I can speak English or Spanish right now honestly,” Daniel Suarez said after emerging from his car in Victory Lane. “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.”
Kyle Busch raced his way to the second spot in the Menards 250 at Michigan speedway. The Joe Gibbs Racing guru was the most dominant car on the track for most of the day. He led 88 of the 125 laps turned and was quick in the pits to compliment his fast hot-rod. The part-time Xfinity driver and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion has been a mentor for Daniel Suarez since his arrival on the NASCAR circuit. Busch was beaming for his pupil and teammate after the event had concluded.
“(I’m) proud of Daniel, he’s done a lot of work, done a lot of things to try to get to this point,” Busch said. “And it’s exciting to see him get that opportunity to win an Xfinity Series race. He’s done a lot of homework and he’s done a good job with being able to talk to the crew chiefs, give them good information, get them solid information that’s going to help them make their cars better. I never even heard the 19 today, I never even saw him all day today and here he came at the end of the race and passed us and beat us.”
Paul Menard, another full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, finished in third. Menard’s Richmond/Menard’s sponsored Chevrolet only managed to lead one lap around the two mile paved oval but was in the mix for the the races re-start on lap 93. After Kyle Busch jumped out to a significant lead, Menard challenged eventual race winner Daniel Suarez for the second position. The two Joe Gibbs Racing hot-rods were just to much for Menard and he had to hold on to claim third.
Erik Jones, the last of the Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, finished a strong fourth. Jones’s Reser’s Fine Food Toyota Camry was fast all day. The two-time Xfinity Dash for Cash winner led 18 laps in the race but couldn’t find the handling that could keep him up front with his fellow partners in crime. Jones maintained his fourth place after the last green flag was waved and solidified his fourth place position in the Xfinity Series point standings. He now sits 55 clicks behind point leader Daniel Suarez.
The Menards 250 at Michigan Speedway took one hour and 36 minutes to complete. The event’s margin of victory was .28 seconds and the average speed of the field was 155.992 mile per hour. There were only three cautions that chewed up 14 laps and 11 lead changes between seven racers. Alex Bowman claimed the Coors Light Pole Position for his qualifying efforts and Daniel Suarez laid claim to the Mobil 1 Driver of the Race. Joe Gibbs Racing once again won the MAHLE Clevite Engine Builders of the Race Award.
Final Results for the Menards 250 at Michigan Speedway:
1. (6) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 125 laps.
2. (5) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 125.
3. (12) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 125.
4. (2) Erik Jones, Toyota, 125.
5. (3) Elliott Sadler, Chevrolet, 125.
6. (9) Joey Logano, Ford, 125.
7. (1) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 125.
8. (4) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 125.
9. (17) Darrell Wallace Jr, Ford, 125.
10. (15) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 125.
11. (8) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 125.
12. (10) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 125.
13. (7) Blake Koch, Chevrolet, 125.
14. (11) Ryan Reed, Ford, 125.
15. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 125.
16. (18) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 125.
17. (20) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 125.
18. (14) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 125.
19. (24) Ryan Preece, Chevrolet, 125.
20. (21) JJ Yeley, Toyota, 124.
21. (22) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 124.
22. (16) Justin Marks, Chevrolet, 124.
23. (26) Ray Black Jr, Chevrolet, 123.
24. (19) Dakoda Armstrong, Toyota, 122.
25. (29) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 121.
26. (30) Harrison Rhodes, Dodge, 120.
27. (37) Martin Roy, Chevrolet, 118.
28. (31) TJ Bell, Chevrolet, 117.
29. (36) Mike Harmon, Dodge, 116.
30. (38) Todd Peck, Ford, 116.
31. (32) Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, 115.
32. (35) Chris Cockrum, Chevrolet, accident, 82.
33. (23) Jeff Green, Toyota, transmission, 75.
34. (28) BJ McLeod, Ford, transmission, 70.
35. (33) Mario Gosselin, Chevrolet, vibration, 41.
36. (34) Morgan Shepherd, Chevrolet, oil leak, 16.
37. (39) John Jackson, Toyota, clutch, 13.
38. (40) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, overheating, 11.
39. (27) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, rear gear, 8.
40. (25) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, rear gear, 3.
