After the smoke from the fireworks of NASCAR’s first race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum had just started to clear, Ben Kennedy was already being asked about new and exciting ideas for the Cup Series schedule, which had become a bit predictable.
Kennedy, who is the great-grandson of NASCAR’s founder and now serves as the executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovations officer, had a clear response.
He wanted to expand NASCAR’s reach internationally.
Kennedy will see this goal become a reality three years after he first shared his plans. In 2025, the Cup Series will race in Mexico City for the first time in modern history. This will be the first points-paying international race for NASCAR in 77 years, and only the third ever.
The race on June 15 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez — a popular track on the Formula 1 calendar — will mark the first time NASCAR’s top series has had a championship event outside the United States since 1958.
NASCAR had previously held points-paying races in Canada and has also had exhibition events in Japan and Australia.
Kennedy mentioned, “Our biggest opportunity to grow as a sport is international. The U.S. is always going to be our mainstay and our next opportunity was to expand internationally.
We said we’ve wanted to do this for a long time, but also needed to make sure it was the right time, the right partners, and the right location.
“Mexico City checked every box. To be in one of the biggest cities globally — over 20 million people that live in the city — is a massive opportunity for us to bring the sport.”
The race, which was announced on Tuesday at the renowned Mexico City road course, is part of a multi-year agreement and will replace the spring race at the short track in Richmond International Raceway. The Mexico City race weekend will also feature the Xfinity Series and the popular NASCAR Mexico series.
Mexican driver Daniel Suarez, who competed in the NASCAR Mexico race during the Clash at the Coliseum event in February, played a key role in Tuesday’s announcement.
The race’s website went live with a video narrated by Suarez, and he was the main focus at a press conference that attracted several hundred media outlets.
“It’s been unbelievable. There are a lot of people excited here in Mexico today, it’s already a day we’re going to remember for a very long time,” Suarez said. “This, for me, is like a dream.
A real dream come true. Exactly 10 years ago I was here racing NASCAR Mexico in 2014 and I won a race here before quitting NASCAR Mexico and moving full-time to NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015.
“I remember thinking how cool it would be to come back and race here in the Cup Series one day. I am just super excited to be part of this journey.”
Kennedy has been making bold changes to NASCAR’s schedule since taking on the role. He helped transform Bristol Motor Speedway into a temporary dirt track, set up a temporary short track inside the L.A. Coliseum, and introduced NASCAR’s first-ever street race in downtown Chicago.
To take the Cup Series international, Kennedy worked with a former partner who had a successful track record. The Xfinity Series had run successfully in Mexico City from 2005 to 2008, with current Cup Series stars Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr. winning during those years.
These races were promoted by OCESA, which also handles the Mexico City Grand Prix and other major events in the country. OCESA will continue to manage the Cup Series races.
“When we look at scheduling, we’re always considering many different venues and markets around the world,” Kennedy said. “We reviewed several international markets, and this one turned out to be the best fit for us.
“They host big events here with large crowds. We have experience racing here. It’s a track that is in great condition and meets all our standards. It was the ideal choice for us.”
