NASCAR Holds First US Points Race in Mexico City

The NASCAR Cup Series is making history by holding the first-ever points-paying Cup Series race outside the United States with the Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Shane van Gisbergen secured the pole position for the Cup race, becoming the third driver to achieve his first two Cup poles at road courses, while his Trackhouse Racing teammates Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez also qualified in the top 10. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series event, The Chilango 150, rookie Connor Zilisch earned the pole position, with Cup regulars Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell following. Daniel Suarez, a native of Mexico and former NASCAR Mexico Series rookie of the year, won The Chilango 150 after starting last due to a qualifying crash, marking his first Xfinity win since 2016. The race featured multiple leaders, including Suarez, Gibbs, and Zilisch, with notable incidents involving drivers Parker Retzlaff and Christopher Bell. NASCAR continues to embrace international venues and diverse driver backgrounds, highlighted by Mexican-born drivers like Suarez and newcomer Andres Perez de Lara competing in the series.