It’s a question that keeps coming up, especially with the fact Daniel Suarez comes into this weekend as the points leader in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
So, Daniel, when will you earn that elusive first Xfinity win?
If Suarez catches a few breaks, it could happen in Saturday’s Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.
“Yeah, definitely it can be a really, really good feeling for us but until that we have to work hard and we still have a lot of work left,” Suarez said after the first of three Xfinity Series practices on Friday. “I tried to put a good race car together for (Saturday), which I think we are going to be able to do that, and after that try to beat our teammate Kyle Busch.
“He has been unbelievable fast, but you know what, it’s been really good to learn from him and to be battling with him side-by-side because, at the end of the day, we’re learning from the best drivers because he’s one of the best drivers out there right now.
“So, we’ve been good, but … we know there’s something there that we have to keep improving and getting better.”
The 24-year-old native of Monterrey, Mexico is off to a strong start this season, finishing eighth at Daytona, seventh at Atlanta and second last Saturday at Las Vegas for Joe Gibbs Racing.
“I think it’s something good that we have been able to carry that momentum last year to this year even with the changes or the difference that we have on our race team,” Suarez said. “I really give a lot of credit to my team because it seemed like all they do right now is to build fast race cars.
“It doesn’t matter where we go, we have a fast race car, and for a driver like me, it’s always very fun to have a fast race car that you know you can have a shot to win the race. If we keep doing what we are doing right now or even improving a little bit more, I really think that we are going to be able to continue that line of top 10s and why not put a win in there.”
Even though he still has yet to win an Xfinity Series race, Suarez’s chances are potentially enhanced at Phoenix — where he won the first race of the 2014 NASCAR Mexico Series season. He also had an 11th-place finish there in 2013.
“I don’t get tired to say this, but Phoenix is like my second home,” Suarez said. “I really feel very comfortable here since I was racing in the NASCAR Mexico stuff and it’s been a really good place for me.
For Suarez, it’s not a matter of if he wins but when.
“Everyone knows that we have the speed and we have all of the pieces to go out there and win races,” Suarez said. “Everyone is excited and everyone is hungry and that’s something that I really like.”
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