MEXICO CITY — Daniel Suarez led a quartet of NASCAR stars via the streets of Mexico Metropolis, after midnight, seeking a nightcap following a full day of showcasing his native nation to his fellow rivals.
NASCAR will maintain its first points-paying worldwide Cup Sequence race in fashionable historical past in June when it competes on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, one of the fashionable stops on the Formulation 1 calendar. It is going to be the primary time since 1958 and solely the third time in 77 years that NASCAR’s high sequence will run an occasion that counts within the championship outdoors of america.
When the announcement was made final August, it was met with pleasure over a brand new venue in a brand new nation. However because the 2025 season has began, rumors have floated via the business that the race could not even occur, questions on safety and security have been requested, and lots of weekly attendees have declared they will not be going to Mexico Metropolis.
NASCAR hasn’t waffled as soon as on this enterprise — it has a two-year contract with promoter OCESA, which additionally hosts the F1 race and different large-scale leisure occasions throughout the nation — and made a two-day tour this week via the metropolis to advertise Thursday’s opening of ticket gross sales. The opening value for a three-day basic admission ticket is about $50.
What this week’s go to did for NASCAR was give 4 of its high drivers an opportunity to expertise the tradition of Mexico Metropolis, witness the first-class promotional efforts of OCESA and see firsthand the thrill locals have for the highest motorsports sequence in america.
Suarez was joined by former sequence champions Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott, in addition to Christopher Bell, who was final weekend’s race winner. The group had an immersive expertise that included a observe stroll, taco tasting, an evening at Lucha Libre wrestling — the place Blaney and Suarez each tried some strikes within the ring — and a Wednesday information convention that drew a whole lot.
“I don’t assume many individuals really notice how particular that is for me as a result of it is not day by day that I get to indicate these guys my residence, my tradition,” Suarez instructed The Related Press. “Everybody has an concept — they have been to Cancun or someplace like that. However to return to Mexico Metropolis and to take them to very genuine locations and see the metropolis, it is simply been wonderful to indicate them what they’ll expertise in June.”
For OCESA, this week’s go to was a feeler for the market demand for NASCAR, which ran in Mexico Metropolis with the second-tier Xfinity Sequence from 2005 to 2008. Tickets for this yr’s F1 race offered out in at some point, however OCESA is in a contract yr with Formulation One Administration and is juggling each F1 extension negotiations and the relaunch of NASCAR.
These two urgent issues have put talks with IndyCar for a 2026 occasion on pause because the promoters wait to see if Mexico Metropolis has an urge for food and skill to afford a number of racing sequence.
However for NASCAR, this week’s go to was an opportunity for its drivers to unfold a constructive message after they return to the storage this weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. A big contingent of the OCESA workers is touring to COTA to be taught the routines of a Cup race weekend.
“This go to is sort of like how NASCAR is as a sport — we all the time inform those that ‘Hey, when you go to a race, you’re going to fall in love with it,’” mentioned chief working officer Steve O’Donnell. “That is been my expertise in Mexico Metropolis, and I feel you are seeing the identical with the drivers who got here down right here. Seeing them smile, calm down, have some enjoyable, be taught some new issues — I am hopeful they will return with some constructive messaging.”
Blaney, who vowed to be taught Spanish earlier than he returns in June, mentioned he “liked each minute” of the journey and that anybody within the business who’s nervous about attending the race is overthinking issues.
“I used to be by no means one of many ones who was sketched out about coming to Mexico Metropolis,” Blaney mentioned. “There’s nothing to fret about. The place is gorgeous, the persons are wonderful, and we have had no points.”
Elliott, NASCAR’s hottest driver and probably the most reserved of the quartet in Mexico Metropolis, mentioned he will not hesitate to encourage followers to return to the race.
“There’s been nothing about my expertise over the past two days that raises any stage of concern of how we’ll be accepted, if there is a lack of pleasure, or if there are questions of safety,” he mentioned. “And the venue? Honestl,y it was even higher than I believed it was going to be. I’ve nothing dangerous to say about racing in Mexico Metropolis.”
