NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez is now a US citizen.
Suarez, a native of Mexico, was sworn in at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Not only were about 50 people in attendance for the special occasion, but also NASCAR Chairman Steve Phelps, members of the Ruckhouse Racing team and his fiancée.
All of this came as a surprise to Suarez.
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NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez waves the American flag during a naturalization ceremony on June 18, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Noah Watts/Daylon Bahr, Trackhouse Racing via The Associated Press)
“What was really special was just how many people came out,” Suarez said Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “I didn’t expect it. I didn’t expect this many people to come out.”
“I didn’t think a lot of people would really care,” Suarez said. “A lot of people really did care.”
Suarez’s parents had actually considered traveling to the United States for the birth, but in the end it was too expensive.
“It’s so crazy that my parents thought even before I was born that I would have more opportunities if I was born in America, and they didn’t,” he says, “and now I feel like I’ve done it in my own way.”
NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez takes the Pledge of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony in Charlotte on June 18, 2024. (Noah Watts/Daylon Barr Photography, Trackhouse Racing via The Associated Press)
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Suarez admitted that obtaining citizenship was not something he initially considered.
“This was never my dream,” Suarez said. “I came to this country to race and compete. I trained hard to take the next step and become more competitive. Before I knew it, I’d been here for 12 years.”
He learned about the citizenship process about six years ago and dedicated himself to it, so much so that his team quizzed him in Dover in April ahead of the citizenship test.
“I felt like now was the right time to start this process. Little by little, I’m gaining more responsibilities in my life. It was the right time to feel more secure. I felt like this is the place to be.”
Daniel Suarez walks on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, California on June 8, 2024. (Logan Leary/Getty Images)
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Suarez has two career Cup wins, including the closest finish ever at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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