Max Gutiérrez

Maximiliano Gutiérrez Hoppe (born December 18, 2002) is a Mexican professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Mexico Series, driving the No. 23 Chevrolet Camaro for Canel's Racing. He previously competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Racing career

Early career

Gutiérrez began racing at 3 years old in the Mexico National Super Kart Championship in 2006, where he finished third in the standings in the Baby Stock category. He returned in 2007, again finishing third in the Modified Baby 50 category. From 2008 to 2013, he won six consecutive Super Kart Championship titles.

In 2017, Gutiérrez competed full-time in the NASCAR Mikel's Truck Series, winning Rookie of the Year honors. He won the championship in 2018.

Gutiérrez moved up to the Mexico T4 Series (now Mexico T4 Series) in 2019, earning 2 wins, 7 top 5s, and 8 top 10s, finishing 5th in the standings. He returned to the series in 2020, where he won the championship with 5 wins, 10 top 5s, and 11 top 10s.

Gutiérrez moved up to the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series full-time in 2021. He earned 8 top 5s, 10 top 10s, and finished 4th in the final standings.

ARCA Menards Series East

On September 17, 2020, Gutiérrez made his ARCA Menards Series East debut at Bristol Motor Speedway, driving the No. 53 for Troy Williams Racing, starting 26th and finishing 14th. He later competed in the East Series race at Five Flags Speedway, starting 14th and finishing 12th. He did not return to Troy Williams Racing after 2020.

On February 5, 2021, Gutiérrez announced that he would drive full-time in the East Series, driving the No. 30 Ford Fusion for Rette Jones Racing.

On February 8, 2021, three days after the announcement, Gutiérrez earned his first career East Series win, after taking the lead on the final turn, defeating Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray in a three wide finish. He finished the season with 1 win, 2 top 5s, and 5 top 10s, and ranked 4th in the standings.

ARCA Menards Series

Gutiérrez made one start in the 2020 ARCA Menards Series season, driving for Troy Williams Racing.

He returned for the 2021 ARCA Menards Series, running the races that were paired with the East Series, with his best finish being 12th at Iowa Speedway.

He returned to the series in 2022, scoring his first career top 10 at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

ARCA Menards Series West

Gutiérrez made his first ARCA Menards Series West start at PHO, starting 12th and finishing 21st.

Craftsman Truck Series

On April 23, 2022, it was announced that Gutiérrez would make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in the CLT, driving the No. 37 for AM Racing. Due to the small number of owner points for the 37 truck, Gutiérrez would attempt to qualify on speed. Since only 35 cars were entered, Gutiérrez made his debut. He started 31st and finished in 26th. Gutiérrez made his second start at the NSH, this time in the 22 truck, as the original driver, Austin Wayne Self, was on paternity leave after the birth of his daughter. Gutiérrez originally qualified 17th, but due to his truck being too low to the ground, he started from the rear. He finished in 8th, scoring his first career top 10 in only his second start.

Personal life

On January 29, 2023, Max and his brother, Federico, were travelling near Valle de Bravo, Mexico in a Porsche Boxster, when their vehicle collided with a Ford Explorer pickup truck. Max was airlifted to a hospital in Mexico City with undisclosed injuries, while Federico, who was driving the vehicle at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Motorsport career results

NASCAR

( key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. ''Italics'' – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Craftsman Truck Series

ARCA Menards Series

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series West

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gutierrez, Max
2002 births
Living people
ARCA Menards Series drivers
NASCAR drivers
Mexican racing drivers
Racing drivers from Mexico City
21st-century Mexican sportsmen