This weekend marks a historic moment as NASCAR hosts its first points-paying Cup Series race outside the United States in 67 years, taking place at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. Three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano, representing Team Penske, spoke exclusively with Motorsport.com’s Luis Ramírez about the significance of this event and what it means for NASCAR’s international future. Logano, despite not having won a road course in nearly a decade, expressed enthusiasm about the challenge of competing on a track unfamiliar to most drivers and emphasized the unique atmosphere of racing south of the border.
We’ll have to wait and see … It’s obviously a lot of unique things, a lot of new things, for all of us to try and figure out and overcome,
said Logano.
You know, not just the race track being new, but all of us being south of the border for us is very new here in Mexico. It’s amazing the whole sport moved like this. Like, how many trucks have come down here and set up our race for everyone here in Mexico? It’s really exciting. It’s pretty impressive, to see it all come together, too.
—Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Logano highlighted the extraordinary effort from NASCAR officials, teams, and logistics personnel who made this event possible, demonstrating the sport’s commitment to expanding its footprint into new territories.
This has obviously been a lot of work for everyone at NASCAR. The teams, the truck drivers all had to put a lot into this. It’s going to be a great event. I’m excited about that. And like you said, we gotta figure out the race itself.
—Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
NASCAR’s international ambitions take shape with Mexico City race
Though NASCAR has held exhibition events in countries like Japan and Australia during the 1980s and 1990s, this Mexico City race is the first championship points event beyond U.S. borders, signaling a potential turning point for the sport’s globalization. Officials have suggested Mexico could be the gateway for more international venues, but Logano remains cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead for NASCAR on the global stage.
I think this definitely is stepping out of our comfort zone and when you do that, you usually grow and see other opportunities that come along with that so I think this is a good start,
Logano said.
Lord knows where we go from here. I don’t know. I think if this is a great success — and it seems so far it has been going very well — but if this can be successful, then yeah, we can pick up and move to some different places. Mexico made good sense to be able to do this. The fans are very excited about us being here. You can drive the trucks here. You start going to other countries, you got to start figuring out how to fly things or put them on boats and that changes the game again. So this is a good step in the right direction.
—Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Logano’s remarks illustrate the practical challenges of international expansion, such as transport logistics, while underscoring the enthusiasm from Mexican fans and the broader racing community for NASCAR’s growth beyond American soil.
Logano’s track record and adjustment to road course racing
While Joey Logano is one of NASCAR’s most accomplished drivers, with multiple championships to his name, road course victories have been rare for him. Of his 37 Cup Series wins, only one took place on a road course — at Watkins Glen in 2015. This highlights a persistent challenge for Logano, who grew up racing on short oval tracks and has had to adapt to the nuances of road course events as they have gained prominence in NASCAR’s schedule.
That’s a great question,
Logano laughed when asked about the difficulty adapting to road courses.
If I knew the answer, I would have done it by now. Just, I think road course races — I grew up racing short track ovals. That’s what my roots are so you feel at home doing that. The road courses…I feel more and more comfortable as we do them more in NASCAR these days, but yeah, I just think it takes a lot of things to all come together.
—Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
This weekend’s race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez presents an added layer of complexity due to being a completely new road course venue for all competitors, intensifying the challenge for Logano and the field alike.
Anticipating weather challenges during the Mexico City race
Adding to the uncertainties of racing at an unprecedented venue, the weather forecast suggests possible rain showers, which could complicate race conditions on this road course. NASCAR has prepared six sets of wet-weather tires per team, reflecting lessons learned from previous experiments racing in damp conditions.
Everything else is different, might as well add some water to the equation,
Logano said addressing the threat of rain.
But it’ll be fine. Hopefully, it doesn’t pour. We’ll race out there in wet conditions, but I don’t think we’re gonna be out there in rainy conditions. Hopefully, the weather holds off enough to where it’s just a little shower and we can go out there and race.
—Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
The possibility of rain introduces another variable for teams to manage while navigating a track that is unfamiliar to nearly all in the Cup Series field.
Significance and future implications of NASCAR’s Mexico City debut
The NASCAR Cup Series’ move to Mexico City is widely regarded as a crucial step toward expanding the sport’s global reach. Logano, as a top driver and reigning champion, recognizes the importance of this event not only for the weekend’s race but also as a signal of NASCAR’s willingness to explore new markets. The success of this weekend’s race could pave the way for further international events, potentially reshaping NASCAR’s traditional calendar and fan base. Given the logistical hurdles and enthusiastic reception, Mexico City serves as both a testing ground and a catalyst for NASCAR’s evolving identity in the 21st century.
