NASCAR's Daniel Suárez on Going LAST to FIRST

NASCAR's Daniel Suárez on Going LAST to FIRST Spike's Car Radio · Oct 29, 2025

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Term

brakes

Brakes are what help a car slow down or stop when you press the pedal. They work by creating friction against the wheels.

Term

stage one

A stage in a race is like a part of the competition where drivers try to go as fast as they can. Stage one is just the first part of the race.

LIVE

You started 39th and it marked the first

time anyone has driven from last to

first on a road course in any NASCAR

national race.

>> That's right.

>> What happened in qualifying? I feel like

the brakes were [music] not 100% like

they were very spongy. I'm pretty sure

this is not normal. I'm I'm a mechanic

myself. So in that one lap I push the

car hard and the very first corner I

push the car the pedal went to the

floor.

>> And you do what I do on a racetrack and

[music] this is where I end up.

[laughter]

>> You're done. You crash. You're now

starting 39. The car is destroyed. So,

we have a backup car, but we have to

build it. Like, the car is not is not

complete. All the guys from all the

teams came helped the car. In the matter

of 4 hours, they put it together. Like,

they were pushing the car to the grid in

the middle of the national. The car felt

good. The brakes felt better, by the

way.

>> Yeah. They're finally working, right?

>> We start passing cars one by one before

the end of the stage one. We're already

in the top 10, then top five, and then

[music] we pass for the lead and we

ended up winning the race.

>> Unbelievable. If I'm one of the owners

of the other teams, I'm going, "Why did

you help this guy?

About this episode

Daniel Suárez shares an incredible story of resilience and teamwork after starting 39th in a NASCAR race and making history by finishing first. He details the challenges faced during qualifying, including brake issues that led to a crash and the need for a backup car. With the help of rival teams, they managed to rebuild the car in just four hours. Suárez recounts the thrilling race as he climbed from the back of the pack to take the lead and secure victory, leaving competitors questioning their support.

brakes stage one

Original notes

This week, Spike is joined by NASCAR driver Daniel Suárez as they dive into his historic racing career, mental resilience, and passion for classic car collecting. Highlights include Daniel sharing the emotional story of reclaiming his childhood Volkswagen bus and his perspective on NASCAR's evolution. ______________________________________________ BUY SCR MERCH! https://spikescarradio.com Listen to a new audio-only Jerry Seinfeld episode on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/spikescarradio 🎧 Raycon - Pocket-Sized Sound for Active Days Get 20% off the Everyday Earbuds Classic https://buyraycon.com/spike 🛞 Vredestein - Car, SUV, Van, and Light Truck Tires Demand a better tire. Demand Vredestein. https://vredestein.com 🛠️ RaceDeck - Transform Your Garage Get 15% off plus free shipping with code SPIKE356 https://RaceDeck.com ______________________________________________ Daniel Suárez takes us through his remarkable journey from being a young car enthusiast in Mexico to making history as the first Mexican driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma. He shares insights about starting from 39th place after switching to a backup car and the mental fortitude required to achieve a first place victory. Daniel also discusses his thrilling Atlanta Motor Speedway win with its photo-finish ending, his rigorous training regimen, and the extreme challenges of racing including communication difficulties and intense heat inside the car. The conversation shifts to Daniel's personal life, including his childhood working in his father's car restoration shop, his Volkswagen collection, and the heartwarming story of reacquiring a VW bus his father had restored. Daniel also reveals his pre-race rituals, his controversial thoughts on the movie "Talladega Nights," and more! _____________________________________________ 📧 To advertise with Spike’s Car Radio, contact Neon Tiger Media: [email protected] 🌐 or visit: https://scrpod.com/sponsor Produced by Skyview Entertainment & Q6 Media https://q6.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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