NASCAR is headed to a historic weekend in Mexico City. For the first time in the sport’s history, a Cup Series points race is scheduled at an international venue. It’s also equally significant for the iconic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track to host the top-tier stock car series, a track which is a staple on the Formula One schedule. Also, the track has a special start/finish line for NASCAR’s grand welcome.
A race in Mexico City is the first step in NASCAR’s global expansion. According to NASCAR boss Steve Phelps, if all goes well here, it could become a road map for the sport’s entry into other international venues.
Remember when he hinted at Brazil also being an option? He had said, “I’m excited. It’s the first time we’ve taken the Cup Series in the modern era outside our own borders. It’s a big stage for us, and we need to make sure we make it…Our drivers will love the circuit, and maybe, who knows, we can have our drivers, at some point, come to Brazil and have a race in São Paulo.”
However, before that happens, all has to go well at the Mexico race. The anticipation for the event is high, and the track authorities have left no stone unturned in decorating the track ahead of the race.
Mexico City Is All Set for Some Stock Car Racing
Well, regardless of anything, NASCAR has a multiple-race contract with the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track. So, the sports officials want the first race in this long partnership to kick off as smoothly as possible. And a lot has gone into planning the Mexico race weekend.
Recently, NASCAR’s vice president of racing operations, Tom Bryant, said, “We’re responsible for everything. It’s a ton of contingency planning because, hey, we are going to be way far away from our home base here, right? We’re not at North Wilkesboro, where we can run back down to Charlotte and grab pieces and parts. That’s not possible. So every aspect of the event weekend has to be planned for, coordinated, resourced, and ready to go.”
Also, looking at the photos from the track, things look set. First of all, the start/finish line catches a lot of eyeballs, which has been painted in pink and blue colors and reads Vamos (let’s go in Spanish) at the top.
Just above the checkered line is written, “International Cup Series points race in the modern era.” And finally, the bottom-most part represents what this whole event means: that the NASCAR Cup Series is now in Mexico City.
Recently, NASCAR Journalist Dustin Long shared a photo of the start/finish line for Mexico city on X. Here, take a look:
#NASCAR … Start/finish line at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez pic.twitter.com/YifAL9ietR
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) June 12, 2025
However, that’s not all. The track also has beautiful signage of NASCAR Mexico City painted on the track and all across the outside wall, something that we don’t get to see on other tracks in the Cup Series.
This race is special because it marks the start of NASCAR’s international era. Let’s hope all goes well and that we get to see the top-tier stock car racing series all across the globe in the future.