NASCAR Xfinity Series

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto salutes Daniel Suarez

Published Dec. 9, 2016 1:24 p.m. ET

Tom Jensen

How big a victory was it for Daniel Suarez to win the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship Saturday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway?

Huge is the correct answer, as Suarez was the first foreign-born driver to win a NASCAR Touring Series championship.

Suarez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, received a congratulatory Tweet from Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, who said, “Pride for Mexico and Latin America in the success of Daniel Suarez in NASCAR. Congratulations!”

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France applauded the Suarez championship Sunday morning as well.

“Obviously, we’re very proud of Daniel Suarez last night and the unbelievable run and winning the championship,” said France. “Historic for the sport in many ways. I got some nice calls from people south of the border last night that are very proud of him. We’re proud of him.”

France also said Suarez’s triumph was proof of the success of NASCAR’s diversity efforts.

“We’re very proud that it validates our diversity plan in a significant way,” said France. “… Without driver diversity, I can tell you with certainty Daniel Suarez is not in NASCAR. He will tell you that.”

Un orgullo para México y Latinoamérica el éxito de @Daniel_SuarezG en NASCAR. ¡Muchas felicidades! pic.twitter.com/u6dtPjF0GX
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) November 20, 2016