NASCAR Lays Down the Law With Aggressive Track Limits for Cup Weekend in Mexico City

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Mexico City for the first time in an international points-paying event this weekend, for a brand-new road course challenge. With the Cup Series taking on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, NASCAR is putting strict new track limit rules in place.

It’s a move that’s already caught the attention of fans and drivers alike.  And this weekend, everyone’s being watched very closely.

New Track, New Rules, at Mexico City by NASCAR

Unlike traditional oval races, where track limits aren’t typically a major concern, in this 14-turn road course layout in Mexico, NASCAR is asking drivers to be very careful and not venture out of bounds.

NASCAR officials have laid out a strict boundary system, especially around the apex of a corner. If a driver is not keeping all four tires inside the red and white rumble strips at the turn apex, they’ll be in trouble.

And this isn’t just a slap on the wrist. If a driver misses the line and cuts the course, they’ll be hit with a stop-and-go penalty on the left side of turn eight. If they miss that, they’ll have to take on a pit lane pass-through. That means more time lost, and in racing, time is everything.

Here are the track limit rules for the Mexico City weekend. There are tire packs in some areas and NASCAR has cameras in others. pic.twitter.com/bBBrNW8Ueu

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 13, 2025

If a driver commits a violation right at the end of a stage or the race or doesn’t serve the penalty before the race ends, there’ll be a 30-second time penalty waiting for them after the chequered flag. NASCAR has made sure that these rules would not be ignored.

Tires, Cameras, and Some Serious Track Policing by NASCAR

To make sure everyone sticks to the rules, NASCAR has set up tire barriers at certain spots on the track. These are meant to physically stop drivers from taking any ‘shortcuts’ around the turns. For areas without barriers, there will be cameras keeping a lookout for things. So, there’s going to be a lot of eyes to check for track limit infringements.

This approach isn’t totally new. NASCAR tried something similar at Circuit of the Americas earlier this year. That time, they even tried installing 400-pound barriers at the corners, but since it didn’t appeal to the drivers, those were removed. But this time, in Mexico, officials are not playing around and have installed these barriers again.

Expect NASCAR to police some of the track limits with cameras. Haven’t heard of the specific sections yet. pic.twitter.com/Ch9tTn4Wep

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 13, 2025

NASCAR wants drivers to respect the layout. With fewer turns than the F1 version of the track, but still packed with challenges, it’s important that everyone plays fair. No more cutting through the grass or dirt to make up time.

All in all, it looks like NASCAR is serious about keeping this new Mexico City race as fair as it possibly can. And with all eyes on how things unfold, teams and drivers will need to stay sharp, follow the lines, and race the right way.