When Daniel Suarez left Mexico in 2011 to pursue his NASCAR aspirations, he carried with him the dreams of a nation that had yet to make a strong mark in America’s premier racing series. Now, more than a decade later, NASCAR is preparing for a monumental return to Mexican soil this June—its first points-paying race outside the U.S. in over 65 years. Adding to the significance, Mexico’s richest businessman has stepped up to ensure this historic event makes a lasting impact far beyond the track at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. This marks a full-circle moment in NASCAR’s long-running ambition to expand globally, tracing back to its lone international championship race in 1958 at Canada’s Exhibition Stadium.
This unprecedented collaboration pairs Mexico’s most accomplished NASCAR driver with one of the country’s most powerful business empires. More than just a sponsorship, it’s a cultural alliance—blending NASCAR’s deep American roots with its growing international reach, especially as the sport re-establishes its presence in Mexico after the Xfinity Series ran there from 2005 to 2008.
In a highly anticipated reveal in Mexico City, Trackhouse Racing presented the No. 99 Telcel-Infinitum Chevrolet that Daniel Suarez will drive in June on the high-altitude 2.674-mile road course. The car proudly displays logos from Telcel and Infinitum—two major telecom brands under the umbrella of billionaire Carlos Slim’s business empire.
“For me, this is a dream come true,” Suarez said emotionally during the unveiling. “Being born and raised in Mexico means everything to me. I’ve dreamed about racing back home every day since I left in 2011. This race will be one of the greatest highlights of my career.”
Suarez’s story includes becoming the first Mexican-born NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion in 2016, along with Cup Series wins at Sonoma in 2022 and Atlanta in 2024. This partnership is more than a financial backing—it’s a powerful show of national pride. The involvement of one of Mexico’s most influential business leaders further elevates the event’s importance, potentially paving the way for broader economic and cultural ties between NASCAR and Mexico.
“Mexico has had a passion for motorsports for years, and I think that love is now extending to NASCAR,” Suarez added. “With the Mexico Series already in place and now the Cup Series coming here, this is going to be huge.” The support from Carlos Slim is reminiscent of other game-changing sponsorships in NASCAR history, like Andy Granatelli’s iconic backing of Richard Petty in the 1970s. This could become a landmark moment for Latino representation in American motorsports.
Trackhouse Racing, co-owned by global music sensation Pitbull, has been vocal about its mission to expand NASCAR’s appeal across cultures and borders. This new partnership with Mexican business leaders aligns perfectly with that strategy, potentially laying the groundwork for more international races in the future. “I hope this event inspires a whole new wave of NASCAR fans in Mexico,” Suarez said. “Our goal is to make this race a regular fixture on the NASCAR calendar.”
Suarez’s path to this pivotal race has had its challenges. Just last week at Bristol Motor Speedway, a dramatic moment occurred when a tire from John Hunter Nemechek’s pit crew flew across pit road, narrowly missing Suarez’s car and team. “After a race like that, watching that video really puts things into perspective,” Suarez posted on social media. “So thankful none of my guys—especially Seth and Milan—were hurt.”
