Who is Max Gutiérrez? Meet The Rookie Who Burst Onto The Scene At New Smyrna

There was nothing subtle about the way Max Gutiérrez introduced himself to those in the U.S. stock car racing scene who had not yet heard of him.

The 18-year-old from Mexico City, Mexico, won Monday night’s Jeep Beach 175 at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway after stealing the lead on the final stretch and beating rivals Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray to the line in a three-wide finish.

The highlight from the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East season-opener — which after the event was named the Reese’s Sweet Move of the Race by fans who voted on Twitter — will be played for years to come.

Yeah, it was pretty sweet@reeses | @RetteJones30 pic.twitter.com/X1lrieTB1j

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 9, 2021

Smith and Gray had to be pondering the same thought as Gutiérrez stole the victory: Where did this guy come from?

Some watching the race either in the stands at New Smyrna Speedway or on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold might have wondered the same.

PHOTO GALLERY: Jeep Beach 175

Gutiérrez earlier this month was announced as the full-time driver for Rette Jones Racing in the ARCA Menards Series East for 2021, set to drive the team’s flagship No. 30 Ford Fusion with support from TOUGHBUILT, Telcel, TekNekk and Avaya.

RJR pinned Gutiérrez as its East driver after he had started a couple races in the series last season, both in the No. 53 TOUGHBUILT Toyota for car owner/crew chief Troy Williams. He finished 14th at Bristol Motor Speedway and 12th at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.

Before that, though, Gutiérrez had padded an impressive karting resume dating back to 2008. He also had stacked awards in Mikel’s Truck Series in Mexico as well as the NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series.

Below are more details on the racing resume Gutiérrez brought to RJR.

• Six-time Super Kart champion (2008-2013)
• Mikel’s Truck Series 2017 Rookie of the Year
• Mikel’s Truck Series 2018 champion
• Seven-time NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series race winner
• NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series 2020 champion

Gutiérrez also had some Late Model Stock Series races on his plate while succeeding in the NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series in 2019, adding the aforementioned pair of ARCA Menards races last season.

To prepare for the 2021 opener at New Smyrna, Gutiérrez participated in a private test at the half-mile oval in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where he spent the day with co-car owner and crew chief Mark Rette and the rest of the RJR team working on the car’s setup.

Needless to say, the preparation was worth the effort.

Gutiérrez on Monday became the first Mexican-born driver to win in the East Series since Ruben Garcia Jr. won a pair of races in 2018. Before Garica, Daniel Suarez had been the last Mexico native to win in the series having picked up his first victory in 2013 and two more in 2014.

Suarez, of course, went on to win the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. Now 29, he is entering his fifth season of full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing.

Gutiérrez has his eyes on a similar path.

“It is great to be involved in the ARCA Menards Series East to help my development for a path in NASCAR,” said Gutiérrez upon his signing with RJR. “The cars are more powerful than in Mexico and a Late Model, but I feel I can control the car better than any other series I’ve competed in.

“There are goals to be conquered in 2021, and with the help of Rette Jones Racing and my partners, they are helping me make my dream a reality.”