25-year-old Enrique Baca from Monterrey, Mexico is just the latest import via the NASCAR Drive for Diversity combine to attempt to make his name in American stock car racing, with the help of Max Siegel’s Rev Racing team.
Baca calls the opportunity afforded by NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program a blessing.
“Without the Drive for Diversity program I would probably be back in Mexico working, not driving a race car,” Baca said. “It’s a big opportunity for me and I think all of the DFD guys think the same thing.”
Enrique, however, is not a rookie to racing, as he had success in the Super V8 Copa Telcel Mexico series, winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2015, along with finishing 10th in the season points standings.
Baca admits that late model racing has taken some getting used to in his rookie season.
“Racing these cars is a lot different,” Baca commented. “There we do mostly road courses. We have NASCAR Mexico, I raced there once but this is my 12th or 13th race in NASCAR.”
Baca, still new to NASCAR and still new to late model racing, has made some positive strides, finishing in the top ten in both twin 75 lap races at South Boston.
“I know I need to get better but I have a great group of guys around me here with Rev Racing,” Baca explained. “Every single race, I learn a lot by being patient. My crew chief has been helping me a lot, teaching me what different adjustments will do to the car.”
Baca has his sights set on moving up but is enjoying his time in the Whelen All-American Series alongside some quite heavy competition.
“Every race here with guys like Peyton Sellers and Mark Wertz and Matt Bowling, they are all really good so I think our 6th place finish in the second race is really good.”
This, however, is not the first time Baca has been racing around skilled competition.
“Daniel Suarez and I are from the same place in Mexico and raced together in go-karts since we were about ten years old. Suarez has been helping me a lot here and we also lived together for a while.”
Baca is a perfect example of what the Drive for Diversity can do. With the help of Rev Racing, Baca is in prime position to carve himself a place in American stock car racing.
