Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Suarez becomes first Mexican driver to win NASCAR Cup pole

Daniel Suarez speaks at a news conference at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Saturday, June 30, 2018. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)
By Dan Gelston Associated Press

Daniel Suarez made NASCAR history when he became the first Mexican driver to win a pole in the elite Cup series.

The milestone comes with a bit of an asterisk: Suarez earned the top spot for Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, because the times of front-row starters Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch were tossed out because their cars failed inspection.

Suarez had qualified third but officially starts his bid for his first career Cup win from the pole.

“It feels good because we haven’t been running well lately,” Suarez said. “I feel like this is just the beginning of the weekend. The real business is (Sunday) and we have to keep this rolling.”