On Sunday, the Viva Mexico 250 at Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will mark NASCAR’s first modern-era points-paying Cup Series event held internationally. Drivers will face a challenging 15-turn layout over 100 laps, covering 242.9 miles at an elevation of 7,350 feet, making this race a unique test on the schedule.
This event is notable as NASCAR’s first international points race since 1958, when Lee Petty claimed victory in Toronto amid a 19-car grid that featured the racing debut of his son, Richard Petty.
Chase Elliott Looks to Reclaim Momentum on Road Courses
Chase Elliott, regarded as one of NASCAR’s top road course competitors, heads into the Mexican race eager to break a recent drought and capitalize on his strong history at similar circuits. Elliott leads active drivers in road course wins with seven, trailing only all-time leaders Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, who have nine and eight wins respectively.
Despite these past successes, Elliott has struggled to find victory lanes since 2022. His last road course wins came in 2021 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and Road America in Wisconsin, tracks which have featured only briefly on the Cup schedule. This stretch has left Elliott searching for redemption as he aims to add to his road course résumé.
Consistent Season, Yet Winless Streak Persists
Through 15 races in the current NASCAR season, Elliott has not secured a win on any track outside of Texas, where he scored his sole victory of 2024 so far. His last triumph prior to that was at Talladega in October 2022. Despite this, Elliott remains a model of consistency, being the only driver to finish all races within the top 20 and currently standing fifth in the points standings, 112 points behind leader William Byron.
In his tenth full-time season, Elliott continues to demonstrate reliability and competitiveness, although the lacking wins contrast with his earlier career when he amassed 19 victories, including five in both his 2020 championship-winning year and the 2022 season. These accomplishments underline his capability but also highlight the current challenge to regain his winning form.
Challenges in Leading Laps and Competition at the Top
Winning in NASCAR frequently requires leading races, yet Elliott has led only 95 laps this season, a stark contrast to the combined 2,074 laps led by the points leaders William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin. Despite Hamlin’s own success—winning at Michigan recently but set to miss the Mexico race due to his child‘s birth—Elliott’s limited time at the front shows the uphill battle he faces.
Strong Road Course Record and Team Optimism
Across his 36 career road course starts, Elliott has recorded seven wins, three poles, and 20 top-five finishes, leading 489 laps with an average finish of ninth place. This record confirms his skill on complex circuits like Mexico City’s, where precision and endurance are critical.
Elliott remains hopeful amid critiques aimed at his crew chief Alan Gustafson and the Hendrick Motorsports team. Reflecting on their teamwork, Elliott emphasized their close bond and resilience:
“We care a lot about each other,”
Chase Elliott said.
“I think it’s important that we’ve stuck together through this, and I think there is light at the end of the tunnel somewhere. I also think we’re going to be way better for it once we do get on the other side because we’ve had to learn some hard lessons.”
Prospects for Victory and Playoff Positioning
Currently enduring a 43-race winless streak in points-paying events, Elliott could greatly benefit from a strong showing in Mexico — potentially tying Tony Stewart for second on the all-time road course wins list. Such a victory would not only boost his playoff standing but also reinforce his reputation as one of the sport’s premier road racers.
With the stakes high at this historic international event, Elliott’s performance will be closely watched as he seeks to secure a playoff berth and restore momentum for the remainder of the NASCAR season.
