Just as the dust settled from NASCAR’s inaugural Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum event, Executive Vice President Ben Kennedy revealed another groundbreaking move: the addition of Mexico City to the 2025 Cup Series calendar. This marks the first points-paying international race in modern history and a significant step towards expanding the sport globally.
Kennedy, great-grandson of NASCAR’s founder and chief venue and racing innovations officer, has been driving the charge for an international presence. He envisioned taking NASCAR abroad three years ago, and now Mexico City is set to become the series’ first-ever foreign stop since 1958. The June 15 event at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez will be a multi-year deal, replacing the spring race at Richmond International Raceway.
“The U.S. will always be our mainstay, but expanding internationally offers our biggest opportunity for growth,” Kennedy said. “Mexico City checked every box: massive crowds, great track conditions, and experienced partners in OCESA. We’re excited to bring the sport to over 20 million people.”
Daniel Suarez, a Mexican driver who competed in the NASCAR Mexico series, was on hand for the announcement. He recalled racing at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez a decade ago and expressed his thrill about returning to the track in the Cup Series.
“This is a dream come true,” Suarez said. “I remember thinking how cool it would be to come back and race here in the Cup Series one day. I’m super excited to be part of this journey.”
Kennedy’s bold schedule moves have been evident since his appointment, including transforming Bristol Motor Speedway into a temporary dirt track and creating NASCAR’s first-ever street race in downtown Chicago.
To execute the Mexico City event, Kennedy partnered with OCESA, a proven promoter of large-scale entertainment events. The Xfinity Series successfully ran at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez in 2008, and NASCAR believes it can attract American fans to this new destination event.
Crowd size is not a concern for OCESA, as the F1 race has long been sold out, and Mexico City was consistently voted by F1 fans as their favorite track. However, ticket pricing and race length are still being determined, with decisions expected early next year.
Can Kyle Busch Compete?
Kyle Busch, who won the 2008 Xfinity Series event at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, posted on social media about his excitement to compete in Mexico City again. NASCAR immediately confirmed that any remaining legal issues involving Busch’s 2023 arrest in Mexico have been resolved, and he’s eligible to enter the country for next year’s race.
When Will the Rest of the Schedule Be Released?
Kennedy said that the entire Cup Series schedule will be ready soon, with all major changes already announced. The L.A. Coliseum event won’t return after a three-year run, but NASCAR will run an exhibition Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, next season.
Other scheduling announcements include:
– The all-star race remaining at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the third consecutive year
– Atlanta moving from the playoffs to open an in-season tournament on June 28
– Phoenix hosting the Nov. 2 season finale
– Homestead-Miami Speedway’s playoff race moving to the regular season in March
Easter weekend is expected to be the only Cup off-weekend during the 38-race season.
Source: AP
