NASCAR will host its first international points race in Mexico City, marking a major milestone for both the sport’s expansion and its television reach. The race is scheduled for June 15, 2025, and will take place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, a venue known in motorsport circles for its storied past with Formula 1 and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. And next year, it will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.
Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Executive Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer, emphasized the importance of this important step in a NASCAR press release.
“This (international event) has been on our radar for a long time,” Kennedy explained. “We’ve talked about further adjusting our schedule, right? You can go back a few years and visit new markets like Nashville and Austin, Texas.
“We went to the Clash at the Coliseum. … We were at our first street race in downtown Chicago and this will be another first for us in many ways.”
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Describing the upcoming race in Mexico City, he stated:
“This will certainly be a monumental event for us, the first time we will advance south of the border.”
The international venture is not only an expansion for NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suárez, but also a deeply personal matter.
Mexican-born Suárez spoke about his emotional connection to the race:
“This is like a dream for me. This is truly a dream come true.”
He vividly recalled his ambitions during his early years as a racer in NASCAR Mexico and looked back on his journey to the top of NASCAR racing.
“Exactly 10 years ago, I raced here in NASCAR Mexico in 2014 and won a race here before leaving NASCAR México and moving to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2015. I knew there was an opportunity to come to Mexico for a few years with the NASCAR Xfinity Series a few years before I did, and I remember thinking it would be a dream for me to one day compete in the NASCAR Cup Series in my country.
“I remember thinking that. And now, nine years later, here we are in Mexico City.”
In partnership with OCESA, the organizer of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Mexico City, NASCAR wants to take advantage of local expertise in organizing major motorsport events. Alejandro Soberón, CEO of OCESA, emphasized the potential of this collaboration.
“At OCESA we are dedicated to entertaining people,” commented Soberón. “And that has made us the most powerful live events platform in Mexico and Latin America, and one of the most important in the world.”
Amazon Prime Video will broadcast the NASCAR Cup Series race live, expanding its presence in sports coverage, while The CW will air the accompanying NASCAR Xfinity Series race, scheduled one day earlier on June 14, 2025. This broadcast strategy not only increases viewership, but also broadens NASCAR’s appeal to a global audience.
Kennedy discussed the bigger picture of NASCAR’s global ambitions.
“It’s huge. When we as a leadership team talk about where we see the biggest growth opportunities for our sport, internationality is always one of the first topics that comes up,” he explained.
Kennedy reiterated that NASCAR remains true to its traditional roots even in its overseas activities and confirmed his continued support for the Richmond race track.
“We remain committed to Richmond… We’ve seen some exciting stories around this track over the last few years and we’re looking forward to being there again next year, providing a great event for our fans and putting a lot of energy and resources into this event,” Kennedy said.
