Daniel Suárez win in NASCAR Xfinity race fires up Kevin Harvick

There’s no question what the moment of the weekend was in NASCAR‘s trip to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. Daniel Suárez, born in Monterrey, Mexico, took the checkered flag in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race.

It was, understandably, an emotional moment for Suárez. Kevin Harvick called it the “best part of the weekend” on Tuesday’s “Happy Hour” podcast.

“The best part of the weekend,” Harvick said. “… I was so excited for Daniel and all the Mexican fans that were there to watch him race in his home country. For our event, and especially on Saturday, they should send him a bonus for probably selling tickets on Sunday because of the fact he went out and did that on Saturday and all of the headlines that came with that.

“Daniel puts a lot of effort into this sport and his craft, but his story of how he got here and the sacrifices he made coming from Mexico, to go back there and win in the Xfinity Series — I was really happy for our sport and Daniel.”

Daniel Suárez wins Xfinity race in home country of Mexico

You couldn’t script it any better for Suárez. Saturday was his first start on his home soil in 10 years, and he did not disappoint. Piloting the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, he drove his way through the back of the field in a backup car and held off Taylor Gray to take the checkered flag. Suárez felt right at home at the 2.42-mile, 15-turn road course, leading a race-high 19 laps.

Suárez left Mexico a decade ago with as he said, “nothing — no English, nothing.” Here he is — a Cup Series regular and the winner of the first Xfinity race in Mexico since 2008. While Suárez couldn’t repeat in Sunday’s Cup race — finishing 19th — he’ll always have that moment from Saturday.

“In more than 20 years of my career, I have never experienced what I experienced today [Saturday],” he said after the race. “When I took the lead, I was able to hear the people like they were right next to me, right here. And not just in the stadium, but also in corner number one, two and three. It was unbelievable. I got goosebumps. I felt so blessed and I was like — I had never had that feeling in my life. It was unbelievable.

“And then I had to really talk to myself and say, ‘Hey Daniel, focus. Don’t get distracted.’ It’s so many people and Mexican flags everywhere, Daniel’s Amigos everywhere, people with signs that said ‘Vamos Suarez.’ It was unbelievable. I really had to work with myself to not get distracted. This race was very special. I know it’s Xfinity, but it’s a very special race for me.”