The Trackhouse Racing driver will race for a championship despite being currently ranked outside the top 30 in the points standings.

Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958.

Shane van Gisbergen dominated Sunday in Mexico City, claiming the first NASCAR Cup Series race in the country. He led 60 laps.

Here's where seeding projections stand for the In-Season Challenge after the Cup Series' inaugural race in Mexico City.

Daniel Suarez became the first Mexican driver to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series on home soil and while he had hoped for better than his 19th-place finish in Sunday's inaugural Viva Mexico 250 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez he said the experience had left him craving more.