NXS: Daniel Saurez Looking to Learn, Be Competitive in Rookie Season

Entering his rookie season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, Daniel Saurez is keeping his goals simple – start off by learning as much as he can.

“I pretty much believe that this is the most important thing,” he commented. “After that, I believe we are going to be competitive and if we are competitive and start running in the top-10 or top-five then with some luck we are going to be getting the chance to get a win. That’s pretty much it. I think as soon as we get to be competitive then I think we are going to be in very good shape the entire year.”

Saurez enters his first year of XFINITY competition after racing in NASCAR’s Mexico Series, followed by a pair of seasons in the K&N Pro East Series. The Mexican had a lot of success, scoring three victories, 10 top-fives and 16 top-10 finishes, highlighted by a third place finish in points last year. He also made a pair of XFINITY starts last year.

“It’s a big change,” he commented in moving up the racing ladder. “I remember like it was yesterday when I was racing on the back straightaway in the K&N Series and a lot of friends and we were able to get the win. It was an unbelievable experience, but that is in the past already. Thanks to a lot of people and thanks to Joe Gibbs Racing, ARRIS and a lot of people, we were able to make this big step and probably the biggest of my racing career. Right now, we are looking forward to this new experience in my racing career.”

In trying to help the learning curve, he will be running some truck races for Kyle Busch Motorsports and feels that will be important as the best thing a rookie can do is get as much seat time as possible.

“To have this kind of opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing and with KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) and with ARRIS, it’s such a great opportunity because as a rookie I don’t know many race tracks,” he said. “All these opportunities, I will be able to get to know some of the race tracks before I’m in the Xfinity car and try to have some extra practice before everyone else.”