NASCAR Makes Telling Admission On Returning To Mexico
NASCAR Makes Telling Admission On Returning To Mexico originally appeared on The Spun.
This weekend's NASCAR Cup in Mexico City saw Shane van Gisbergen walk away with his second career Cup Series win in front of a huge crowd that braved the early elements at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
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Saturday's race was the first NASCAR points event held outside of the U.S. in nearly 70 years. But when it comes to potentially running it back, one of the sport's higher-ups remained noncommittal on whether or not it'll be returning to our southern neighbors next year.
"I would say for us, this is more of a strategic move as a sport to expand our footprint globally and internationally and to a new mass fan base," senior executive Ben Kennedy said. "Just being in a country with 90 million people and over 20 million people in the larger Mexico City metro alone, not in and of itself, this is a success."
NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps also offered some comments before the race. Saying, "We've had several game-changing firsts in recent years, but this one is different."
"Racing here in Mexico City, amongst these passionate fans in such an impressive venue for the first time in NASCAR Cup Series history, is in a word, spectacular," he added. "Together, we are doing something that will be remembered in the history of our great sport."
June 15, 2025; Trackhouse Racing driver Shane Van Gisbergen crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series Mexico City Race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Mandatory Credit: Carlos Perez Gallardo/Reuters via Imagn Images© Carlos Perez Gallardo/Reuters via Imagn Images
If this weekend's races in Mexico were as successful as NASCAR believes them to be, there's no reason to believe that they won't eventually make their way back to Autódromo.
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However, Kennedy concludes that the sport is looking into a lot of different factors before it locks in next year's event calendar.
"As we're going through the planning of putting together the pieces of the 2026 schedule, there are a lot of dominoes that need to fall."
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NASCAR Makes Telling Admission On Returning To Mexico first appeared on The Spun on Jun 16, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
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