MEXICO CITY — The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico Metropolis has performed host to Components 1 races for a number of years. This yr, the NASCAR Cup Series made its debut on the facility.
INDYCAR might probably be part of the enjoyable in 2026 as each NASCAR and INDYCAR look to extend their North American fan bases.
NASCAR followers look on throughout pre-race ceremonies previous to the NASCAR Cup Sequence Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Whether or not NASCAR returns might be decided within the subsequent couple of months. NASCAR and promoter OCESA should consider the primary journey of Cup to Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and the primary go to south of the border of any NASCAR nationwide sequence in 17 years.
It had been 67 years since NASCAR had staged a Cup factors race exterior america.
“We consider that our communities share a spirit of optimism and want to enhance the lives of our folks by means of collaboration and connection,” NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps instructed the drivers previous to the race. “We consider that is notably true by means of sports activities, and in our case, motorsports. We’ve the dignity and accountability to excite, entertain and unite by means of our sport, and I understand how a lot placing on an amazing present means to all of you.
“We hope that NASCAR can proceed to foster significant relationships right here in Mexico for a few years to come back.”
Each NASCAR and INDYCAR have Mexican drivers competing at their highest ranges. Daniel Suarez was a fan favourite this previous weekend. INDYCAR driver Pato O’Ward — who, like Suarez, is from Monterrey — has a following that’s doubtless double or greater than Suarez as Mexican followers are inclined to comply with open-wheel racing.
“We might like to go there,” O’Ward stated after his second-place INDYCAR end Sunday at World Broad Know-how Raceway exterior of St. Louis. “I feel it might be improbable to have INDYCAR there, and we’re positive as hell going to attempt to pack the entire place up.”
INDYCAR star and Mexican driver Pato O’Ward would love for the sequence to run a race in Mexico.
NASCAR Government Vice President Ben Kennedy’s main function is spearheading the growth of the schedule to new venues. He stated discovering the best spot on the calendar would be the key to returning to the venue, which hosts a Components 1 race annually and fairly probably an INDYCAR race subsequent season.
INDYCAR’s probably date would come within the spring, the place there are fewer races and there are questions on a return to Thermal. NASCAR’s probably is extra nearer to the summer time, though the 2026 World Cup can have matches in Mexico Metropolis from June 11-July 5, which probably might impression when NASCAR might or would wish to race there.
Components 1 already has introduced its 2026 schedule and can race Nov. 1 in Mexico Metropolis, whose motorsports calendar additionally has included a Components E occasion (which this yr was in January).
Kennedy indicated that the take care of OCESA to advertise the race is a multi-year settlement, nevertheless it has choices year-to-year on whether or not to proceed.
“We’re very hopeful to be again right here sooner or later,” Kennedy stated. “We stated this time and time once more, … we have been daring and we have been progressive. We have completed issues like races in downtown Los Angeles and constructing a short lived [track] there [in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum], the first-ever avenue race in our sports activities historical past in downtown Chicago and this was the subsequent milestone second for us — bringing a race internationally.
“We’re very daring about persevering with to convey our NASCAR Cup Sequence internationally. Mexico is a good place to do it.”
Sunday’s race wasn’t a sellout, nevertheless it was an enthusiastic crowd. Kennedy stated 90 % of the followers got here from Mexico and 44 % from Mexico Metropolis.
“We have been pleased with [the attendance],” Kennedy stated. “The stadium part was packed … What’s simply as necessary to us as the quantity of individuals is the actual fact that there have been avid followers that have been right here, there have been informal followers that have been right here, and there have been a ton of recent followers that had by no means been to a NASCAR race.”
A basic view of an LED show of Mexican-born NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Daniel Suarez at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Whether or not the occasion made cash doubtless wouldn’t be a problem concerning NASCAR’s resolution to return.
“For us, that is extra of a strategic transfer as a sport to broaden our footprint globally and internationally and to a brand new large fan base,” Kennedy stated.
“Simply being in a rustic with 90 million folks and over 20 million folks within the bigger Mexico Metropolis metro alone, that, in and of itself, is successful. … That carries much more weight than the economics or financials of the occasion. “
NASCAR did have some challenges, particularly with planes it chartered to convey groups and different business personnel. One aircraft apparently blew an engine and one other was grounded by homeland safety as a result of a paperwork difficulty.
That resulted in NASCAR having to alter its Friday and Saturday schedules, as groups on these planes both needed to await planes for the subsequent day or two or scramble for industrial flights.
“There are challenges to internationally which can be completely different,” stated RFK Racing proprietor and driver Brad Keselowski, who competed in one of many Mexico races when the Xfinity Series raced there from 2005 by means of 2008.
“I think the business will re-learn a few of these classes from a decade plus in the past and be outfitted to deal with it higher the subsequent time.”
The drivers appeared to embrace the environment and the tradition. A number of had come to the realm within the final couple months to attempt to create consciousness for the race.
“It was a very particular factor for us to have the ability to come down right here and do that,” stated NASCAR’s hottest driver, Chase Elliott. “I believed it was very well completed. I have not had any unhealthy experiences all through both of my journeys to Mexico Metropolis.
“I believed the weekend was total successful.”
Winner Shane Van Gisbergen and extra postrace interviews from Viva Mexico 250
NASCAR appeared to have discovered from a few of its experiences at new street programs and appeared to discover a answer with strategically positioned tire packs to thrust back drivers making an attempt to chop the turns.
“It is all the time cool going to completely different locations,” stated race winner Shane van Gisbergen. “However I’ve no say in it.
“I feel everybody appeared to take pleasure in themselves. The racing was cool. I would love to come back again.”
Some may not assume the racing was as cool as van Gisbergen, who won by 16.567 seconds over Christopher Bell. Whereas the second half of the race offered little drama, the racing on Saturday within the Xfinity Sequence actually delivered, as that sequence can sometimes get somewhat chaotic.
Emerging from the chaos was Daniel Suarez, NASCAR’s lone Mexican-born Cup driver and the one Mexican to win a Cup race and the one worldwide driver to win a nationwide sequence championship.
The followers roared for Suarez, who had made a number of journeys himself to Mexico Metropolis to advertise the occasion.
“Each single factor about this weekend exceeded my expectations. The folks, the followers, the sponsors, the joy, the power,” Suarez stated. “I had expectations for this weekend. Not for the outcomes however for the occasion and I can inform you that it personally exceeded these expectations.
“So very, very completely happy for that. Very blessed. I hope that we will do it many extra occasions.”
Daniel Suarez had a profitable weekend in Mexico as he received the Xfinity Sequence race.
We’ll see if that occurs.
“Racing right here in Mexico Metropolis amongst these passionate followers in such a formidable venue, for the primary time in NASCAR Cup Sequence historical past is, in a phrase, spectacular,” Phelps stated in his deal with to the drivers.
“Collectively, we’re doing one thing that might be remembered within the historical past of our nice sport.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time protecting motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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