Who are the Hispanic drivers in NASCAR? All you need to know

It comes as no surprise NASCAR has been significantly evolving in recent years to keep up with the wider spectrum of motorsports, from the introduction of Next-Gens to exploring locations outside of America and engaging a larger audience.

The auto racing organization primarily comprises American drivers and holds points-paying races inside the United States. However, a lot has changed since its inception. With Hispanic drivers joining the sport and finding success, it has opened opportunities for drivers from outside the nation and has become crucial for diversity in NASCAR.

As of today, Mexican native Daniel Suarez is the only active full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver and another NASCAR veteran who returned to stock-car racing after a 10-year hiatus in a one-off race.

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Hispanic drivers in NASCAR

Let's take a look at two Latin-American-born drivers who have etched their names in NASCAR history:

#1 Daniel Suarez

Daniel Suarez

Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Daniel Suarez has laid the path to success for Hispanic drivers in the modern era.

With his historic win in the Cup Series at the Sonoma Raceway, Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to do so. Moreover, the 32-year-old in 2016 became the first international driver to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.

Suarez has found himself on the victory lane in all three national series and now competes in his eighth full-time season in NASCAR's premier division. He drives the #99 Chevy for Trackhouse Racing, co-owned by Justin Marks and an American rapper, Pitbull.

In 275 starts in the Cup Series, the Mexican native has two wins, most recently in the second race of the 2024 season at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With one win, three top-fives and seven top-10s, Suarez is on his run for a maiden Cup Series championship title.

#2 Juan Pablo Montoya

Juan Pablo Montoya

From open-wheel to stock car racing, the Colombian racing driver from Bogota, Juan Pablo Montoya has succeeded in several motorsports disciplines. With triumphs in Formula 1 and the IndyCar Series, Montoya transitioned to NASCAR and made history as a Hispanic driver.

He first competed in the Cup Series for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2006. He claimed his first victory in his rookie season at the Sonoma Raceway to become the first Latin-American NASCAR driver to do so and the first international driver in the modern era.

After retiring full-time in 2013, the 48-year-old returned to the high-octane stock car racing for a one-off race at the Watkins Glen International for 23XI Racing, driving the #50 Toyota. He flared up to the same road course where he clinched his second career Cup Series victory in 2010.