Daniel Suárez has faced persistent whispers throughout his NASCAR career about coming from wealth, but the Mexican-born driver is setting the record straight. The misconceptions about his privileged upbringing have clearly frustrated him, as he’s opened up about the reality of his humble beginnings and the sacrifices his family made to support his racing dreams.
Daniel Suárez Family Money Rumors Miss the Mark Completely
The assumption that Suárez came from money has been a constant irritation throughout his career. He directly addressed these misconceptions, stating, “That bothered me, because I actually wish those people who thought I was growing up in a family with a lot of money got to see a little bit of where I grew up.”
“That’s the one thing I’m 100 percent sure of: Nobody here in the garage had it as rough as I had it growing up. It was different and difficult,” Suárez explained, painting a stark contrast to the wealthy background many assumed he had.
His father, Alejandro, made extraordinary sacrifices to fund Daniel’s racing career, including selling the family’s auto restoration business and mortgaging their home. These weren’t small gestures but life-altering decisions that put the entire family’s financial security at risk.
Daniel Suárez’s Grueling NASCAR Journey Started with Creative Solutions
From an early age, Suárez had to get creative to make his racing dreams work. His family couldn’t afford everything he needed, so he found other ways to get track time. He started helping other go-kart drivers with their cars, and in return, they let him practice with their equipment.
His road to NASCAR was bumpy from the start. Even after winning two Mexican karting championships, his first try at racing in America didn’t work out. In 2011, he moved to Buffalo, New York, but had to go back to Mexico when the money ran out.
Then there was the language problem. Suárez was 19 when he came to the U.S., and he didn’t speak English. He couldn’t pay for language classes, so he taught himself by watching movies and cartoons. He knew he had to learn fast because not being able to talk to his team could ruin everything.
Things finally turned around in 2013 when NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program gave him a real shot. This program helps minority drivers get opportunities they might not get otherwise. It was exactly what Suárez needed.
His big moment came in 2016 when he won the Xfinity Series championship. This made him the first foreign-born driver ever to win a national NASCAR title. It wasn’t just a trophy for him, though. With that success, he could finally help his dad restart the family businessthat they had to sell years earlier.
Thank you to all my amigos who never stopped believing in me. Thank you to @JustinMarksTH for giving me an opportunity. Thank you to everyone at @TeamTrackhouse for the fast race cars. I am so lucky to be part of this team. I am so humbled and grateful. GRACIAS!!!!! 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/75NkyrSqBk
— Daniel Suárez (@Daniel_SuarezG) June 13, 2022
Suárez’s story shows that the “family money” idea is completely wrong. His success came from hard work, smart thinking, and people who believed in giving talented drivers a fair chance.