NASCAR Makes History This Weekend with Inaugural Mexico City Cup Series Race

Mexico City, Mexico – For the first time in its modern era, NASCAR’s premier Cup Series has ventured outside the United States to stage a full points-paying event, marking a historic milestone as drivers and teams descend upon the famed Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250.

This ground-breaking event is the culmination of months of meticulous planning, complex logistics, and enthusiastic anticipation from fans, drivers and teams alike. Located in the heart of Mexico City, the 2.42-mile, 15-turn road course has welcomed the sport back to the venue that previously hosted the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2005 to 2008.

Leading the charge is Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez, who returns to his home country with immense pride. The Monterrey native, who has previously triumphed three times on the circuit’s oval configuration in the NASCAR Mexico Series, has been a passionate ambassador for the event. “I’m super excited to live in the moment,” Suárez said. “The first time only happens once, and I want to execute the best weekend possible. Hopefully, that execution results in a win.”

While Suárez savours a homecoming, several Cup Series road course specialists, including Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, A.J. Allmendinger, Michael McDowell and Shane van Gisbergen, view this inaugural race as a critical opportunity to secure their place in the Playoffs. Elliott, who leads all active Cup drivers with seven road course victories, could tie Tony Stewart for second-most all-time should he triumph this weekend.

New Zealand’s van Gisbergen, already a street course winner in his Cup debut in Chicago, eagerly anticipates the challenge. “It will be nice to have a bit of a break and race on the types of courses I’m used to, which means turning right,” he said.

Hendrick Motorsports enters Mexico City as the dominant force on road courses, having won at eight different venues, more than any other team in NASCAR history. With William Byron, Kyle Larson and Bowman securing five of the last eight road course victories, Hendrick drivers are among the favourites once again.

Behind the scenes, orchestrating this international operation has been a monumental effort. NASCAR’s Vice President of Racing Operations, Tom Bryant, utilised his 21 years of military experience to coordinate the complex movement of equipment, personnel, and vehicles across the border. “This is an operation, not just an event,” Bryant explained, emphasising the extensive contingency planning required. Over 137 haulers carrying thousands of items crossed from the United States into Mexico under strict documentation and coordination.

Assisting this process was Steve Beres, NASCAR’s managing director of racing operations, who described the daunting task of managing nearly 2,400 documents, overseeing 284 drivers, and ensuring each hauler was properly manifested for customs clearance.

Long-standing partners such as Goodyear, Featherlite, and Stepp’s Towing, along with logistics company Rock-It Cargo — known for their work with Formula One and global concert tours — provided vital support throughout the journey.

While the Cup Series breaks new ground, the Xfinity Series returns to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for the first time since 2008 with Saturday’s The Chilango 150. The event is the second of seven road course races on the Xfinity calendar. Series veteran Justin Allgaier enters Mexico City with momentum, having secured his third win of the season at Nashville and leading the standings by 92 points. Meanwhile, rookies like Connor Zilisch and Sam Mayer aim to make their mark on the challenging circuit.

Joining them is a diverse field that includes Suárez, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell and rising Mexican star Andres Perez De Lara, who makes his Xfinity debut. This weekend also holds special significance for Mexican fans as Suárez, the first international driver to win a NASCAR national touring series championship, competes on home soil.

Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez itself boasts a rich motorsport legacy, having hosted Formula One, World Endurance Championship, Formula E, and now, its first-ever NASCAR Cup Series event. Built in 1959 and named after Mexican F1 legends Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez, the circuit’s high-altitude setting at 2,285 metres above sea level presents unique challenges for both drivers and their machinery.

As the engines roar to life in Mexico City, NASCAR not only celebrates a landmark international event but opens its doors to a passionate new fanbase. “Knowing that we’re delivering NASCAR racing to this entirely new fan base in Mexico City is really cool,” Bryant reflected. “It truly is a historic event.”

The Viva Mexico 250 promises not only to crown a race winner, but also to cement its place as a pivotal moment in NASCAR’s global expansion.

Source: Holly Cain via NASCAR Wire Service & Zach Sturniolo via NASCAR.COM