NASCAR is reportedly finalizing plans to include Mexico City in its Cup Series schedule for 2025, marking the first time in 67 years that the series will host a points race outside the U.S. The race is set to take place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where, before NASCAR decided to jump in, F1 has already been racing since 2015. The Cup Series race is scheduled for June 15, 2025, with the Xfinity Series race set for a day before that.
This move would be NASCAR’s first international Cup Series points race since 1958, when it raced at the Canadian Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Moving to Mexico City was a decision made by NASCAR as they noticed the growing fans after introducing the LA and Chicago races.
NASCAR’s second-tier series raced at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez from 2005 to 2008, and the track has a history of hosting major motorsport events, including Formula One, since 2015. To accommodate the new race, it’s anticipated that Richmond Raceway will lose one of its two annual Cup Series dates. Richmond, which has hosted two Cup races every year since 1959, has seen declining attendance and race quality in recent years. NASCAR hopes to attract both U.S. fans traveling to Mexico and local fans who may be new to NASCAR.
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NEWS: NASCAR is adding Mexico City to the 2025 Cup Series schedule with announcement planned for Tuesday that will include NASCAR’s Ben Kennedy and Daniel Suarez, sources tell @TheAthletic. https://t.co/KXF1v9KqM5
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) August 26, 2024
For Mexican driver Daniel Suárez, this race is a dream come true, as he has expressed that competing in his home country would be the pinnacle of his career.
What did Daniel Suarez say about the Mexico City track?
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NASCAR back in Mexico City after 16 years—Is this the boost the sport needs?
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Daniel Suarez was quite happy to hear the news about Mexico City being added to the Cup Series calendar. However, that came with some skepticism, as he said, “It’s not official until it’s official. Honestly, it would be like a dream to me. I’ve been in the Cup Series already for several years, and a race in my native country would be like a dream.”
The No. 99 Chevrolet driver for Trackhouse Racing explained how he moved out of Mexico back in 2011 and that it has always been his dream to go back as a Cup Series driver. Looking forward to winning races there, if the track gets added to the calendar, it would be “as big as winning the championship,” he added.
Daniel Suarez already has won races in the NASCAR Mexico series, but if everything works out, he will be competing in the Cup Series championship at his home race. Another feat that Suarez has overcome are the fact that he is the first Mexican driver to win a race in the Cup Series, which happened back in 2022 at the Sonoma Raceway.
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Considering his drive to win at his home race, do you think he will make his dream a reality? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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NASCAR back in Mexico City after 16 years—Is this the boost the sport needs?