Daniel Suarez Becomes U.S. Citizen, Reveals He Almost Had American Birth

Daniel Suarez took an oath this week and officially became a United States citizen, receiving a surprising confession from his mother — the native of Monterrey, Mexico, learned that he almost was born in America. His parents had contemplated moving to the United States before his birth in 1992, hoping to have their future NASCAR star born in the U.S. However, the prohibitive costs deterred them from pursuing this plan.

“It was cheaper to give birth in Mexico, but it's funny to think that my parents had considered having me born in the United States for better opportunities,” Suarez said, laughing. “They didn't follow through with it, but now, I guess I did it my way.”

Suarez, indeed, did it his way. He was one of 48 citizens representing 28 countries sworn in at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“The most special part was seeing so many people there,” Suarez said at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “I wasn’t expecting such a big turnout.”

In attendance were his fiancée, Julia Piquet, members of his Trackhouse Racing team, and even NASCAR president Steve Phelps, who delivered the keynote speech at the naturalization ceremony. “I didn’t think many people would care about it, but a lot of people did,” Suarez added.

Growing up in Mexico, Suarez never considered becoming an American citizen. His focus was solely on racing. His father first packed his car and trailer with Suarez’s karting gear for a road trip to Las Vegas when Suarez was just 12. He performed well enough to spark the idea of a racing career.

As Suarez’s passion for stock cars grew, his father sold his auto restoration business to support this expensive pursuit. Suarez's stock car career took off in Mexico, where he won five times in NASCAR’s Mexico series in 2014. He then transitioned to NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East and became a teen sensation.

After moving to the United States, including a stint in Buffalo, New York, Suarez landed a NASCAR ride. He won the Xfinity Series title in 2016, becoming the first foreign champion in a NASCAR national series. He has since secured two career Cup wins, including the closest finish ever at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Initially, Suarez focused solely on his racing career rather than citizenship. “It wasn’t a dream of mine. I came to this country to race and compete,” Suarez said. “I was so focused on advancing my career that I didn’t realize how much time had passed.”

As he matured, Suarez understood the importance of becoming a citizen. About six years ago, he decided to start the process. In April, his team quizzed him over the Dover race weekend ahead of his citizenship test. He passed with flying colors.

“If something bad happened to me, with just a green card, I could be deported,” Suarez explained. “It felt like the right time to start this process, to feel more secure and that I belong here.”

Suarez plans to marry next month in Brazil and hopes to start a family in the coming years. However, there are immediate logistical hurdles.

“As we speak, I can’t leave the country because I don’t have my green card or my American passport yet,” Suarez said. “Julia has been working tirelessly to expedite my American passport so we can get married in Brazil. I joked with her, if you want to marry me, you’ll have to help me with this.”

Why This Matters: Daniel Suarez’s journey to U.S. citizenship highlights the challenges and rewards of pursuing dreams in a foreign land. His story underscores the importance of determination, resilience, and the significance of citizenship for immigrants seeking stability and security in their new country.

Key Takeaways

• Daniel Suarez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, recently became a U.S. citizen.
• His parents had considered having him born in the U.S. for better opportunities.
• Suarez’s journey in racing began with a childhood road trip to Las Vegas.
• He won the Xfinity Series title in 2016, becoming NASCAR’s first foreign champion.
• Suarez plans to marry next month in Brazil but faces logistical challenges due to his pending passport.