NASCAR goes international: What to know about first Cup Series race in Mexico

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NASCAR goes international: What to know about first Cup Series race in Mexico
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The NASCAR Cup Series grid is going international for the first time in decades this weekend.
Cup Series drivers will take to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City in the second road course event of the 2025 season. This is the first international Cup Series race in 25 years and the first points race outside the U.S. since 1958.
This isn't the first time NASCAR's visited the course, though. The Xfinity Series raced there from 2005 to 2008 with a different winner each year.
This week's race will be a crucial event for NASCAR's first in-season challenge. Three races will be used for seeding in the challenge: the June 8 race at Michigan, Mexico City and the June 22 race at Pocono. The best result from each of those three races will decide how the 32-driver field will be seeded.
This circuit is one of the better venues for racing spectacle. The start/finish line is on the longest straight of any road course NASCAR will visit this year, and the final few corners cut through a baseball stadium called the "Foro" that brings fans close to the action.
Here's everything you need to know about the Cup Series' first race in Mexico:
Where is the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez?
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is in Mexico City near the city center.
It's a tough challenge for all non-electric formulas of racing because of the elevation. At 7,349 feet above sea level, the air is thin enough to make things difficult for both the cars and drivers.
Construction on the circuit was completed in 1959 and was named for Mexican racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez.
NASCAR international history
The Cup Series has raced outside the U.S. before but not in decades. Here's a full list of the series' international events:
1952: Canada
The first Cup Series event outside of the U.S. took place on the half-mile Stamford Park dirt track in Niagara Falls. The race in Ontario was one of the toughest on drivers with 14 of the 17 failing to see the checkered flag by the end of the 200-lap race.
1958: Canada
The Cup Series returned to Canada for the Jim Mideon 500 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. It was one of the shortest races on the calendar at 0.333 miles. NASCAR icon Lee Petty won the race but it was notably the debut of his son and future seven-time champion, Richard Petty.
1988: Australia
This exhibition race at the Calder Park Raceway in Melbourne saw the best of the Cup Series compete over 280 laps on the 24-degree banking. It was such a success that NASCAR created an Australia racing division from 1989 to 2002.
1996-1998: Japan
For 1996 and 1997, the Cup Series raced the Suzuka Circuit at the end of the year. NASCAR used the East Course of the circuit for both events and saw some Japanese drift racing stars take their chance against the Cup Series' best.
In 1998, the Cup Series went to an oval – the Twin Ring Motegi – for 201 laps of exhibition racing at the end of the year.
Viva Mexico 2025: How to watch, TV, streaming, stage info
The Cup Series' first race in Mexico will be 100 laps on the 2.429-mile course. Stage 1 will be 20 laps, Stage 2 will be 25 and Stage 3 will be the final 55.
Here's how to catch the action:
Date: Sunday, June 15, 2025
Sunday, June 15, 2025 Time: 3 p.m. ET
3 p.m. ET Location: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City TV: None
None Streaming: Prime Video
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