NASCAR has made a groundbreaking announcement: the Cup Series will race internationally in Mexico for the first time in its modern history. This landmark event is scheduled for June 15, 2025, and it will take place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. To complement this historic race, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will also be in action on June 14, 2025, at the same venue. These races mark the first time NASCAR will hold a points-scoring Cup Series event outside the United States.
The Cup Series race will be broadcast live on Prime Video, while the Xfinity Series race will air on The CW, ensuring that fans worldwide can tune in to witness this historic occasion. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, known for hosting the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix, is a 2.674-mile (4.303 km) track. NASCAR’s decision to bring its premier series to Mexico is part of its broader strategy to expand its international presence. While the Cup Series has previously held events in Canada and Japan, this move into Mexico represents a significant step forward.
NASCAR is partnering with OCESA, a leading entertainment promoter in Mexico that also organizes the Mexico City Grand Prix for Formula 1. Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s executive vice president, emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “We brought the Craftsman Truck Series to Canada for a number of years, we’ve had the Xfinity Series in Mexico.
This is a monumental moment for our sport in the sense that this is our first step of really taking the Cup Series internationally, and I think it could set us up for the future in potential new markets.” Kennedy acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to bring NASCAR to new audiences.
The last time the Cup Series raced outside the United States was in 1958 when a race was held in Toronto. This upcoming race in Mexico City will replace one of the two annual races held at Richmond Raceway, a 0.75-mile track that has been a fixture on the NASCAR calendar since 1959.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has a rich motorsport history and was initially built in 1959. It underwent significant renovations in 2015 and is named in honor of Mexican racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez. The Xfinity Series has a history at this track, having raced there four times between 2005 and 2008. The venue has also hosted the NASCAR Mexico Series, a regional championship, where current Cup Series stars like Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch have claimed victories.
For the upcoming 2025 event, the Cup Series will race on the full 2.7-mile road course layout of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, offering a unique challenge compared to the shorter version used by Formula E. This event is poised to be a major milestone in NASCAR’s international expansion efforts, with more details about the 2025 Cup Series schedule expected to be announced in the coming months.
This move into Mexico is not just a race; it’s a strategic step that could open doors for NASCAR in other international markets. With this event, NASCAR is not only making history but also paving the way for its future on the global stage.
