Suárez Takes Victory in Brazil, Records NASCAR Wins in Three Countries

While the NASCAR Cup drivers are on their Olympic break, Daniel Suarez is in Brazil accomplishing big things. Last week, he married Nelson Piquet's daughter Julia in an intimate ceremony in her home nation, and this Saturday, he won the second of three NASCAR Brasil races after being penalized in the first race and falling to second.

Marrying into the Piquet family and then winning in Brazil is a huge deal for the Mexico-born 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Champion. Recently Suárez became a duel Mexico-US Citizen, embarrassing his past and present.

NASCAR Brasil hosts three races this weekend at Autodromo de Interlagos, with the third still to run on Sunday.

With this victory, Suárez now has the unique accomplishment of winning in NASCAR Mexico and Brazil in addition to all three American series.

Earlier this year, he won the NASCAR Mexico season opener that ran as an expedition race alongside the Busch Clash at the Coliseum, the series second race held in America and first since 2013.

Suárez, before leaving for the American NASCAR ladder, won the 2010 Mexico championship and is the only former NASCAR Mexico driver with wins in the three premier series.

After not making the Clash but winning in Los Angeles, he would go on to win the NASCAR Cup race in Atlanta a few weeks later in the third-closest finish in the series at the time. This margin of victory was pushed to the fourth closest when Kyle Larson beat Chris Buescher at Kansas by.001.

While Brazil campaigns for a NASCAR expedition race, this weekend of great race action at Interlagos helps show the strength of a South American race.

In the first race, Suárez beat Léo Torres and Cayan Chianca to the line but was penalized for five seconds for rough racing. He would be credited in sixth place with a tight battle up front. Suárez, unaccustomed to the Brazillian series rules, was upset with the time penalty, but his tune would change in the second race.

Torres, with his victory, said it was incredible to race against the competition, especially Suárez.

"I love racing at Intelagos, even more so after being champion here last year. Being able to ride with so many motorsports beasts is incredible, not to mention competing with Daniel Suárez. Everything worked out in the end, and it was a perfect race", Torres told Brasil NASCAR.

In the second race, the roles were reversed for Suárez when Lucas Mendes crossed first but was given a time penalty.

NASCAR Brasil will complete their race weekend tomorrow as they attempt to use the platform to push for the NASCAR Cup race to run The Clash in the South American country in the near future.

The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, was quoted by motorsport.com earlier this week saying that he would like The Clash to be held in Brazil as early as 2026.

"We are always looking for the best attractions for São Paulo that can bring in tourists, as well as attract investment and generate jobs. We have a racetrack that is a reference for the sport, and we have everything we need to put on a great event," Freitas said.