NASCAR made history on Sunday at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez—it was the first Cup Series points race outside the U.S. since 1958. What started as a landmark moment quickly turned into a wet, wild display of chaos, drama and surprise performances. The weekend had already been energized by local hero Daniel Suárez, who rebounded from a qualifying crash to win Saturday’s Xfinity “Chilango 150.” But the Cup race delivered even more drama.
The invocation and dual national anthems took place under cloudy skies that threatened rain. The sky darkened further during pace car laps, and by the time the field took the green flag, light showers were in play. NASCAR called a caution on Lap 1 to allow teams to switch to wet-weather tires. The majority of the field pitted, with the exception of Austin Cindric and Chris Buescher. However, the rain began to fall harder and visibility rapidly declined, especially through the course’s sweeping esses.
That poor visibility played a key role in the seventh-lap crash, as Kyle Busch misjudged braking and slid into the wall. In the spray that followed, he collected Kyle Larson, AJ Allmendinger, Justin Haley, Chase Briscoe, and Zane Smith. The wreck ended the day for Busch and sent Larson to the garages with extensive damage. By the time he returned to the track he was 39 laps down but still managed to record the fastest lap and claim the bonus point.
Daniel Suárez brought the house down early, briefly taking the lead and provoking cheers that echoed throughout the grandstands. He eventually slipped back to 19th, but his emotional connection with the crowd was palpable—and he expressed hope that Sunday would mark the first of many Mexico City races.
The defining drive of the day came from Shane van Gisbergen, who had started on pole despite battling illness. Earlier in the day, he had texted Max Verstappen for tips on tackling the track—whether wet or dry. SVG drove steadily to lead 60 of 100 laps, pulling away from Christopher Bell in the later stages and winning by over 16 seconds. The victory punched his ticket to the playoffs and reaffirmed his previous success at Chicago’s street race.
While SVG shone, temper flared elsewhere—Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. tangled twice, setting off a fiery pit-road confrontation. Stenhouse made it crystal clear he will “beat his ass” when they’re back in the US.
Chase Elliott fought his way to a gritty third-place finish, having maneuvered through traffic in rough conditions. Christopher Bell claimed second, but didn’t seem entirely satisfied—“I wanted more,” he admitted post-race. Meanwhile, Alex Bowman, still sore from a heavy hit at Michigan and unable to walk as late as Wednesday, had reluctantly skipped sim work and team meetings earlier in the week. However, he impressively toughed it out, charging to third place and finishing in fourth with a performance that underscored his perseverance.
It seems SVG wasn’t the only driver that felt Mexico’s effects, as Noah Gragson and Ryan Blaney also battled stomach issues. Many suspect local water or food, raising questions as to whether teams received proper guidance.
Fan reaction was a mix to the Mexico City race was mixed. The win ignited enthusiasm from Aussies and Kiwis online given that Gisbergen won, but some NASCAR purists criticized the race as relatively boring. And some team members were vocal on social media platforms that they weren’t pleased with the area, the track, or the race, and couldn’t wait to get home. NASCAR EVP Ben Kennedy said the event felt strong and local participation was heavy, but the grandstands were not sold out and it showed from every angle on TV. Suárez, for his part, made it clear he wants to “come back many, many times.” Given these comments, it sounds as though a return to Mexico City has not yet been decided on. However, we heard the same after NASCAR completed the first Chicago Street Race only to discover afterward that a three-year deal had been signed. So, we’ll have to wait and see.
Top 10 Finishers
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Christopher Bell
- Chase Elliott
- Alex Bowman
- Michael McDowell
- John Hunter Nemechek
- Chase Briscoe
- Cole Custer
- William Byron
- Chris Buescher
Photo Credit: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – JUNE 15: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)