all photo credit: Instagram/@octane.jpg
NASCAR’s Mexico City weekend at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez introduced the Cup Series to a new audience and created a memorable event for local fans.
Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has long been a playground for speed and history, and in 2025, it became the stage for NASCAR’s latest international chapter. For the first time in 67 years, the NASCAR Cup Series hosted a points race outside the United States. Shane van Gisbergen, piloting the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, took the Cup Series win in commanding fashion, leading 60 of 100 laps and crossing the line more than 16 seconds ahead of the field. Meanwhile, Daniel Suárez staged a comeback that had the grandstands going wild, fighting his way from a last-place start to take the Xfinity Series win. “Every single thing about this weekend exceeded my expectations—the people, the fans, the sponsors, the excitement, the energy,” Suárez said. “20 years of my career I have never experienced anything like that.”
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted a range of familiar faces and new personalities. Soaking in the sights and sounds of NASCAR’s inaugural Cup Series race in Mexico City, content creators Jordan Taylor and Curtis Willis made the trip south on behalf of Racers & Riders. NFL running back Alvin Kamara and comedian Jay Mendoza mingled with fans and teams as Dale Earnhardt Jr. lent his voice to the Xfinity post-race press conference, representing Trackhouse Racing and celebrating Suárez’s win. Legendary four-time NASCAR Cup champion Jeff Gordon served as Grand Marshal, bridging the sport’s storied past with its global ambitions. Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior VP of Competition, confirmed that 90% of attendees came from Mexico, with nearly half from Mexico City itself.
NASCAR’s debut in Mexico City demonstrated the sport’s potential beyond its traditional borders. The racing delivered, and the fans responded enthusiastically. The hope is that the energy and diversity on display in Mexico City will have a lasting impact on the sport for years to come.
[This is an excerpt of the original article “NASCAR Mexico City: A New Chapter at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez” that was published on Racers & Riders and written by T. Walker aka Sincerely Tam. For more photos from Mexico and the full article, please visit RacersandRiders.com.]
