For the first time in its 76 years of existence, the NASCAR Cup Series is racing in a different country. The Viva Mexico 250 is the Cup Series’ debut on the road course in Mexico City, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Here is everything you need to know before Sunday’s race.
NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Preview
It is a historic weekend for the NASCAR Cup Series. For the first time since its founding in 1949, NASCAR will race in a country that is not the United States. Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will be the setting of the Viva Mexico 250.
Cup drivers took to the track today for two practice sessions to begin their weekend. Check out the full practice broadcast here:
Race Preview:
The Viva Mexico 250 is a 250-mile, 100-lap race around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which is 2.42 miles around. Cautions for the stage breaks will be on laps 20 and 45. A final 55-lap stage will end with the checkered flag flying on lap 100. The prize purse for this race is a total of $12,561,250.
No part of this 15-turn race track is easy!
Get more familiar with the #NASCARMexico course. pic.twitter.com/iomONkNUnW
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 12, 2025
Goodyear is bringing two sets of tires, the yellow slick tire and the white rain tire. Teams will have 6 sets of tires for the race, 1 from qualifying and 5 fresh sets. They will have 5 sets of the rain tires in case needed. The tires are the same tires that have been used at Sonoma, Chicago Street Course, and Watkins Glen.
Challenges for the Cup Series this weekend:
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and Mexico City sit at such a high altitude that it is introducing new challenges on the Cup Series field. Drivers have had to train for the altitude, with some of the Legacy Motor Club drivers hanging out at owner Jimmie Johnson’s house in Colorado. The cars have had to be modified. Larger cooling ducts have been added, and teams have had a longer time between sessions to get more air into the cars after a run. Engine techs said that the engines themselves are getting 22% less than they would at a lower altitude.
Drivers will have to manage all the factors the altitude brings if they want to win on Sunday.
The Track:
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez broke ground in 1959 as a Formula 1 track. It has hosted F1 24 times in the past. The NASCAR Xfinity Series first raced at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in 2005, the first race outside of the United States for Xfinity. The track and its altitude created unique challenges for the teams, allowing for only the best to conquer it. From 2005 to 2008, it hosted Xfinity until the logistics and cost of racing in Mexico City became too much for teams.
Cup Series Point Standings:
These are the current point standings following last week’s race at Michigan:
1. William Byron: 576
2. Kyle Larson: 535
3. Denny Hamlin: 494
4. Christopher Bell: 480
5. Chase Elliott: 464
6. Tyler Reddick: 460
7. Ryan Blaney: 427
8. Ross Chastain: 414
9. Joey Logano: 395
10. Bubba Wallace: 383
Read More: Chevy Flexes Power, But Denny Hamlin Stands Tall in Irish Hills
Drivers To Watch:
Two additions to the field for this race weekend. Denny Hamlin is not racing this week, on account of he and his fiancée have a new addition to their family. Hamlin welcomed a baby boy on Wednesday and will stay home to take care of her and the family. Ryan Truex, younger brother to Martin and #11 team Simulator driver, will pilot the car for this weekend. Congratulations to Denny Hamlin and his family.
Katherine Legge makes her second start of 2025. She is driving for Live Fast Racing, driving the #78 Chevy.
Who Will Win The Viva Mexico 250?:
We have had the two practice sessions, and those have given us some good insight into who might end up in victory lane on Sunday.
Daniel Suarez, I don’t think there is a better weekend to get a win. You are the lone driver in the Cup Series from Mexico. You have experience at this racetrack. All the fans are rooting for him. I think you would be wrong if you did not root for him, too.
Shane Van Gisbergen, Suarez’s teammate, is also heavily talked about for this weekend. International driver with international experience. He shocked NASCAR in 2023 by winning on debut; it would shock the field again if he could win the first race at Mexico. Both SVG and Suarez were in the top ten in the final practice session.
For the Fords, I look at Chris Buescher. He outdueled SVG at Watkins Glen last year and finished the final practice in fifth. Look for the lone Texan in the field to win in his neighboring nation.
Lastly, the Toyotas. I think Ty Gibbs has a great shot at winning his first race in Mexico City. He got his first win in Xfinity on the road course in Daytona, who says he can’t get his first Cup win on a road course? Ty finished P3 last week at Michigan and was fired up. I think he carried some of that anger into the final practice, finishing P3. He will have some extra track time, running the Xfinity race on Saturday. Look for Gibbs on Sunday.
Read More: NASCAR Xfinity Series Chilango 150 In Mexico City Preview
Viva Mexico 250 Weekend Schedule:
Here is the schedule for the Viva 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez this weekend:
Friday, June 13th:
- 1st Practice: 4:05 PM Eastern
- Final Practice: 5:30 PM Eastern
Saturday, June 14th:
- Qualifying:
- 2:05 PM Eastern
- Coverage is on Amazon Prime
Sunday, June 15th:
- The Viva Mexico 250
- 3:00 PM Eastern time
- Coverage is on Amazon Prime Sports, The Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Stay updated on everything from NASCAR’s Trip to Mexico City here on Last Word on Motorsports
Main Photo: James Gilbert, Getty Images
Recording Date: 6/13/2025
