Daniel Suarez Suffers Wreck During Xfinity Qualifying
In a setback for Daniel Suarez, the JR Motorsports driver crashed his No. 9 Chevrolet during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. With just over 22 minutes remaining in the session, Suarez lost control in Turn 11, impacting the barrier head-on and severely damaging the front end of his car.
Suarez managed to reverse from the wreck and return to the pits, where he communicated to his team that he had “locked the fronts” at the corner entry. The damage necessitates a switch to a backup car, relegating him to start from the rear of the field. Team personnel are now under time constraints as they prepare for the race set to start within hours.
Post-incident, Suarez expressed regret over the crash. “I probably just trusted the car a little bit too much,” he said after being evaluated and released from the infield care center. He noted issues with the brake pedal during practice, stating, “I tried to brake like normal but the pedal just kept going down. Just very sorry for everyone at JR Motorsports.” Despite the incident, Suarez remains optimistic about the backup car’s performance, asserting, “I think the car was pretty good.”
This marks Suarez’s first Xfinity start of the year, adding pressure as he competes at his home track. His teammate, Connor Zilisch, secured pole position for the race in the No. 88 Chevrolet, creating a contrasting atmosphere for both drivers as the event approaches.
As the team pivots to prepare the backup car, Suarez’s experience, including a championship win in the 2016 season, will be critical as they aim for a strong finish in front of a home crowd.
