I recently sent an email to Mara Reyes, inquiring about her experience racing in the first NASCAR race held in Mexico in 2005.
She was very gracious and generous with her time, providing us with a detailed and insightful response.
Her firsthand account offered a fascinating perspective on that historic event, making our understanding of her racing journey much richer.
Her willingness to share her experiences truly enhanced our appreciation of her accomplishments and the significance of that race in history.
Here's my email:
Hi Mara,
I hope you're doing well.
My name is Joe Laracuente, and I'm with WDXD 101.9FM in Tallahassee, Florida.
I wanted to reach out and ask you a few questions for my radio program talking about the 2005 NASCAR race in Mexico.
What was it like to race in the very first NASCAR race in Mexico?
It must have been an incredible experience, what was the feeling when you got the green flag?
How were the fans?
Also, do you plan to attend NASCARs return to Mexico this weekend?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Joe Laracuente
Here's Mara's response
Thanks for reaching out!
What a nice surprise.
Racing for the first time in NASCAR back in 2005 in Mexico City was one of my dreams come true.
First of all, because it was my dream to race in NASCAR,
and second, because it was in my home country - so two dreams coming true at the same time.
Taking that green flag was the best feeling I've ever had.
I felt the adrenaline all the way to the top of my soul.
There were thousands of fans at the racetrack.
I experienced so many emotions that day.
When the Mexican national anthem was played during the opening ceremony, I got goosebumps, as I was representing my country.
I was so excited that day.
It wasn't the result I had hoped or dreamed of.
I had too many problems with the car - the brakes, and also the gearbox.
It was a shame I couldn't find more support from sponsors to continue the dream of racing in NASCAR.
I know I could have done so much better, as I felt very confident and comfortable in the series.
I've always been very competitive.
And I know I had the aptitude to continue and achieve good results if I had been able to keep racing.
Those were different times - there was no social media, and there were no development or diversity & inclusion programs
like the ones NASCAR supports today for young people from different countries and genders.
I think that back then, I was knocking on doors alongside other Mexican drivers.
We made that effort together, and in doing so, helped open the way for the support programs that exist today in NASCAR.
I'm proud that, in some way, we helped create change for future generations.
Unfortunately, I won't be attending this weekend's race in Mexico,
as I'm currently with my mom who is dealing with some health issues.
But I'll definitely be watching the race on TV.
I'll be there next time for sure.
Thank you so much for this interview.
I'm so happy to share some of these memories with you - it truly brings back goosebumps.
Have a wonderful day.
Mara Reyes
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