Daniel Suarez won the 25th Annual Menards 250 presented by Valvoline for his 1st NASCAR XFINITY Series race

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, passes Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota, during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Starting from 6th place Car 19 Daniel Suarez ARRIS Toyota won the 25th Annual Menards 250 presented by Valvoline, his 1st win in 48 NASCAR XFINITY Series races. This is his 1st win & 11th Top 10 finish in 2016. This is his 1st win & 1st Top 10 finish in 2 races at Michigan International Speedway. Daniel Suarez leads the point standings by 18 points over Elliott Sadler. Daniel Suarez (Monterrey, Mexico) becomes the first Mexican driver to win a NASCAR national series race. Suarez is the 6th foreign born driver to win in the NASCAR XFINITY Series joining Larry Polllard (Canada), Ron Fellows (Canada), Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia), Marcos Ambrose (Australia) and Nelson Piquet Jr. (Brazil). 2nd Place Car 18 Kyle Busch NOS Energy Drink Toyota, started from 5th place posted his 8th Top 10 finish in 9 races at Michigan International Speedway. It is his 8th Top 10 finish in 2016. 3rd Place Car 2 Paul Menard Richmond/Menards Chevrolet, started from 12th place posted his 9th Top 10 finish in 11 races at Michigan International Speedway.

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

4th Place Car 20 Erik Jones Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota, started from 2nd place was the highest finishing rookie. 5th Place Car 1 Elliott Sadler OneMain Chevrolet, started from 3rd place. 6th Place Car 22 Joey Logano Discount Tire Ford, started from 9th place followed by 7th place Car 88 Alex Bowman Vannoy Construction Chevrolet, started from pole. 8th Place Car 7 Justin Allgaier BRANDT Chevrolet, started from 4th place followed by 9th place Car 6 Darrell Wallace Jr LoudMouth Exhaust Ford, started from 17th place. Lastly in the Top 10 was Car 33 Brandon Jones # Nexteer Chevrolet, in 10th place, started from 15th place. Daniel Suarez leads the point standings by 18 points over Elliott Sadler.

Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Vannoy Construction Chevrolet, and Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

The race 3 Cautions for 14 Laps: 1st Caution on lap 29 for Debris Frontstretch. 2nd Caution on lap 82 for Debris Turns 1 and 2. 3rd Caution on lap 88 for Car 25 Chris Cockrum Advanced Communications Group Chevrolet Accident Turn 2.

Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Vannoy Construction Chevrolet, and Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

The race had 11 Lead Changes among 7 drivers: Lap Leaders: A. Bowman 1-11; E. Jones # 12-28; E. Sadler 29; J. Yeley 30; K. Busch(i) 31-67; E. Jones # 68; P. Menard(i) 69; D. Suarez 70-71; K. Busch(i) 72-99; E. Sadler 100; K. Busch(i) 101-123; D. Suarez 124-125. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): K. Busch(i) 3 times for 88 laps; E. Jones # 2 times for 18 laps; A. Bowman 1 time for 11 laps; D. Suarez 2 times for 4 laps; E. Sadler 2 times for 2 laps; P. Menard(i) 1 time for 1 lap; J. Yeley 1 time for 1 lap.

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Top 10 in Points: D. Suarez – 452; E. Sadler – 434; T. Dillon – 416; E. Jones # – 397; J. Allgaier – 388; B. Jones # – 388; B. Gaughan – 386; B. Poole # – 373; D. Wallace Jr – 340; R. Reed – 301.

NASCAR Statement:

Suárez Becomes First Mexican Driver To Win NASCAR National Series Race

NASCAR Drive for Diversity, NASCAR Next Graduate Wins At Michigan

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 11, 2016) – Daniel Suárez earned his first career NASCAR XFINITY Series win on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, becoming the first Mexican-born driver to capture a NASCAR national series victory.

With the victory, Suárez clinches a spot in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase.

Suárez, a graduate of both the NASCAR Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Next programs, has a accomplished a long list of accolades since joining NASCAR in 2011. Last season, he became the first Mexican driver to win the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, finishing fifth in the championship standings. This season, Suárez became the first foreign-born driver to lead the points in any of the three NASCAR national Series, topping the NASCAR XFINITY Series standings for six consecutive weeks. He is the current points leader in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, the series where “Names Are Made.”

Suárez, 24, has quickly climbed the NASCAR ladder system throughout his career, with full-time stops in the NASCAR Mexico Series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East before joining the NASCAR XFINITY Series with Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2015 season.

During his four years (2011-14) in the NASCAR Mexico Series, Suárez won 10 races and finished in the top 10 in championship points in all four of his seasons, including a runner-up championship finish in 2013.

In two full-time seasons in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, Suárez won three races and finished third in the final standings in 2013.

Suárez had scored six runner-up finishes in the national series prior to his win on Saturday.

With the victory, Suárez becomes only the fifth Latino driver to win a NASCAR national series race, joining Frank Mundy, Juan Pablo Montoya, Aric Almirola and Nelson Piquet Jr.

NASCAR Next is an industry-wide initiative designed to spotlight to best and brightest rising young stars in racing. NASCAR Drive for Diversity, operated by Rev Racing, is an academy-style development program for female and multicultural drivers and crew members who have the potential and determination to succeed at the highest levels of NASCAR.

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Menards 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race Number 13
Unofficial Race Results for the 25Th Annual Menards 250 Presented By Valvoline
– Saturday, June 11, 2016
Michigan International Speedway – Brooklyn, MI – 2 Mile Paved
Total Race Length – 125 Laps – 250 Miles

Finish Start Car Driver Team Laps Status
1. 6. Car 19 Daniel Suarez ARRIS Toyota 125 Running
2. 5. Car 18 Kyle Busch(i) NOS Energy Drink Toyota 125 Running
3. 12. Car 2 Paul Menard(i) Richmond/Menards Chevrolet 125 Running
4. 2. Car 20 Erik Jones # Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota 125 Running
5. 3. Car 1 Elliott Sadler OneMain Chevrolet 125 Running
6. 9. Car 22 Joey Logano(i) Discount Tire Ford 125 Running
7. 1. Car 88 Alex Bowman Vannoy Construction Chevrolet 125 Running
8. 4. Car 7 Justin Allgaier BRANDT Chevrolet 125 Running
9. 17. Car 6 Darrell Wallace Jr LoudMouth Exhaust Ford 125 Running
10. 15. Car 33 Brandon Jones # Nexteer Chevrolet 125 Running
11. 8. Car 48 Brennan Poole # DC Solar Chevrolet 125 Running
12. 10. Car 39 Ryan Sieg iDashboards Chevrolet 125 Running
13. 7. Car 11 Blake Koch LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet 125 Running
14. 11. Car 16 Ryan Reed Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford 125 Running
15. 13. Car 3 Ty Dillon Rheem Chevrolet 125 Running
16. 18. Car 4 Ross Chastain Dream Water Chevrolet 125 Running
17. 20. Car 0 Garrett Smithley # Operating Engineers 324 Chevrolet 125 Running
18. 14. Car 62 Brendan Gaughan South Point Chevrolet 125 Running
19. 24. Car 01 Ryan Preece # teamjdmotorsports.com Chevrolet 125 Running
20. 21. Car 44 JJ Yeley Zachry Toyota 124 Running
21. 22. Car 51 Jeremy Clements RepairableVehicles.com/Diamond Pistons Chevrolet 124 Running
22. 16. Car 42 Justin Marks Katerra Chevrolet 124 Running
23. 26. Car 07 Ray Black Jr # Scuba Life Chevrolet 123 Running
24. 19. Car 28 Dakoda Armstrong Winfield Be Greater Toyota 122 Running
25. 29. Car 52 Joey Gase Donate Life/DB Sales Chevrolet 121 Running
26. 30. Car 13 Harrison Rhodes OCR Gaz Bar/Mohawk Market Dodge 120 Running
27. 37. Car 90 Martin Roy Gamache Truck Center Chevrolet 118 Running
28. 31. Car 97 TJ Bell VroomBrands Chevrolet 117 Running
29. 36. Car 74 Mike Harmon Dodge 116 Running
30. 38. Car 15 Todd Peck Lilly Trucking/Carport Empire Ford 116 Running
31. 32. Car 70 Derrike Cope Big Brothers Big Sisters/Jackson Coffee Co. Chevrolet 115 Running
32. 35. Car 25 Chris Cockrum Advanced Communications Group Chevrolet 82 Accident
33. 23. Car 14 Jeff Green Toyota 75 Transmission
34. 28. Car 78 BJ McLeod # Ford 70 Transmission
35. 33. Car 92 Mario Gosselin BuckedUp Apparel Chevrolet 41 Vibration
36. 34. Car 89 Morgan Shepherd Chevrolet 16 Oil Leak
37. 39. Car 40 John Jackson TLC Vacations Toyota 13 Clutch
38. 40. Car 79 Josh Williams DB Sales Chevrolet 11 Overheating
39. 27. Car 93 Josh Wise(i) RSS Racing Chevrolet 8 Rear Gear
40. 25. Car 10 Matt DiBenedetto(i) Toyota 3 Rear Gear
Race Comments: Prior to the start of the race, no cars dropped to the rear of the field.
Failed to Qualify: N/A. Time of Race: 01 Hrs, 36 Mins, 11 Secs. Average Speed: 155.952 MPH. Margin of Victory: 0.280 Seconds.

Coors Light Pole Award: Alex Bowman, #88 191.586 mph. Duralast Brakes “Brake in the Race”: Erik Jones, #20. Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Joe Gibbs Racing Engines – M. Cronquist, #18. Mobil 1 Driver of the Race: Daniel Suarez, #19. Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Erik Jones, #20.

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Next Race: Jun. 19, 2016 – Iowa Speedway

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