MEXICO CITY (AP) — Daniel Suarez led a quartet of NASCAR stars through the streets of Mexico City, after midnight, in search of a nightcap following a full day of showcasing his native country to his fellow competitors. NASCAR will hold its first points-paying international Cup Series race in modern history in June when it competes at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, one of the most popular stops on the Formula 1 calendar. It will be the first time since 1958 and only the third time in 77 years that NASCAR’s top series will run an event that counts in the championship outside of the United States.
The news of a new location in a new nation was greeted with excitement when it was announced in August of last year. However, since the 2025 season began, there have been concerns raised about safety and security, a number of weekly attendees have stated they will not be traveling to Mexico City, and there have been whispers circulating in the industry that the race may not even take place. With a two-year deal with organizer OCESA, which also organizes the Formula One race and other major entertainment events across the nation, NASCAR hasn’t wavered in its commitment to this endeavor. This week, the team traveled through the city for two days in order to advertise the beginning of ticket sales on Thursday.
A three-day general admission ticket starts at around $50. Four of NASCAR’s top drivers had the opportunity to experience Mexico City culture, observe OCESA’s top-notch marketing initiatives, and get a personal look at the locals’ enthusiasm for the leading motorsports series in the US thanks to this week’s visit. Christopher Bell, the winner of the race last weekend, and previous series champions Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott joined Suarez. A track walk, taco sampling, a night at Lucha Libre wrestling, where Blaney and Suarez each attempted some moves in the ring, and a news conference on Wednesday that drew hundreds of people were all part of the group’s immersive experience.
“I don’t think many people actually realize how special this is for me because it’s not every day that I get to show these guys my home, my culture,” Suarez told The Associated Press. “Everyone has an idea — they’ve been to Cancun or somewhere like that. But to come to Mexico City and to take them to very authentic places and see the city, it’s just been amazing to show them what they are going to experience in June.” For OCESA, this week’s visit was a feeler for the market demand for NASCAR, which raced in Mexico City with the second-tier Xfinity Series from 2005 to 2008. Tickets for this year’s F1 event sold out in one day, however OCESA is in a contract year with Formula One Management and is juggling both F1 extension negotiations and the relaunch of NASCAR.
Due to these two urgent issues, negotiations with IndyCar for a 2026 race have been put on hold while the promoters assess Mexico City’s willingness and capacity to support several racing series. However, when NASCAR drivers return to the garage this weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, it will be an opportunity for them to deliver a positive message. To become familiar with the procedures of a Cup race weekend, a sizable group of OCESA employees is traveling to COTA. Chief operating officer Steve O’Donnell remarked, “This visit is almost like how NASCAR is as a sport — we always tell people that “Hey, once you go to a race, you’re going to fall in love with it.” “That’s been my experience in Mexico City and I think you’re seeing the same with the drivers who came down here. Seeing them smile, relax, have some fun, learn some new things — I’m hopeful they’ll return with some positive messaging.”
Blaney said he “loved every minute” of the trip and that anyone in the industry who is anxious about going to the event is overanalyzing the situation. Blaney also promised to study Spanish before his June return. “I never had any reservations about visiting Mexico City,” Blaney remarked. “You shouldn’t be concerned. We haven’t encountered any problems, the people are wonderful, and the location is stunning. The most popular driver in NASCAR and the quietest of the four in Mexico City, Elliott, stated that he will not think twice about urging racegoers to attend. “My experience over the past two days hasn’t given me any reason to be concerned about how we’re going to be received, if there is a lack of excitement, or if there are safety issues,” he said. “And the venue? Honestly it was even better than I thought it was going to be. I have nothing bad to say about racing in Mexico City.”
