Shane Van Gisbergen secured a landmark victory by leading 60 of 100 laps to win the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. This historic win marks Van Gisbergen’s second career NASCAR Cup Series triumph and the first international NASCAR victory in the sport’s modern era, breaking a drought that dated back to 1958.
Van Gisbergen, a New Zealander and rookie full-time Cup driver who previously won championships in Australia’s V8 Supercars Tour, overcame significant travel setbacks just to make it to the race. His plane experienced a mechanical failure in Charlotte, North Carolina, delaying his arrival until early Friday morning for practice. Despite starting from the pole position, Van Gisbergen reportedly felt unwell shortly before the race began, yet his performance behind the wheel remained commanding.
How Travel Challenges and Strategy Shaped Van Gisbergen’s Victory
The weekend’s difficulties did not slow Van Gisbergen as he skillfully managed a race that shifted from wet to dry track conditions. His dominance became evident after a mid-race caution came at an opportune moment, disrupting the strategy of his closest rival, Ty Gibbs, while cementing Van Gisbergen’s lead. Throughout the race, Van Gisbergen’s command was evident as he progressively increased his gap, ultimately winning by 16.5 seconds.
I felt pretty rubbish today — leaking out both holes, that wasn’t fun,
Van Gisbergen remarked to Prime.
Our car, it was amazing. I think the 54 was close, but that last stint, man, what a pleasure just ripping lap after lap and watching them get smaller in the mirror. Unreal.
— Shane Van Gisbergen, Race Winner
Van Gisbergen credited some of his success to advice received from four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, who helped him navigate the wet conditions of the challenging Mexico City circuit.
A little bit in the wet, and just what lines to take and how to approach it. What a guy,
Van Gisbergen said regarding Verstappen’s input.
Race Results and Key Performances Beyond the Winner
The victory margin was the largest in a NASCAR Cup Series event since Kurt Busch defeated the field by over 25 seconds at Texas in 2009. Christopher Bell finished second, followed by Chase Elliott in third place, with Alex Bowman and Michael McDowell rounding out the top five. John Hunter Nemechek, Chase Briscoe, Cole Custer, William Byron, and Chris Buescher completed the top ten, with Custer logging his first top-10 finish of the season.
While Van Gisbergen led with precision, the rest of the field endured chaotic conditions. Several incidents, including a multi-car crash caused by wet track challenges, ended the races for well-known drivers Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. The intense racing atmosphere in Mexico City also reignited tensions between drivers Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Post-Race Confrontation Highlights Rising Tensions
Following an on-track incident where Carson Hocevar spun out Ricky Stenhouse Jr., an angry Stenhouse confronted Hocevar in his car. Their frustration was palpable, with Stenhouse threatening retaliation once back in the United States. I will beat your ass, Stenhouse declared, as captured on Hocevar’s in-car camera.
I will when we get back to the States!
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Driver
I just got left and in the marbles and slid a lot longer than I expected,
Hocevar explained to reporters.
Obviously, number one, not somebody that I would ever want to hit again. But number two, I wasn’t racing anybody. I was just logging laps and just trying to wait on a yellow and maybe see if we could put our day back together. I just hit a curb wrong and got in the marbles and slid all the way through the corner.
I tried to turn left to avoid him, but just a really, really sloppy day by me.
— Carson Hocevar, Driver
Notable Performances from Mexican Drivers and Substitutes
Mexico native Daniel Suarez, who triumphed in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at the same venue, performed well but faded late to finish 19th in the Cup event after briefly leading a restart. Meanwhile, Ryan Truex filled in behind the wheel of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, substituting for Denny Hamlin, who missed the race due to the recent birth of his son. This marked Truex’s first Cup start since 2014 and added an emotional dynamic to the weekend.
Van Gisbergen’s Historic Milestone and What It Means for NASCAR
With this victory, Van Gisbergen is the first driver since Marvin Porter in the late 1950s and early 1960s to score his first two NASCAR Cup Series wins in inaugural races at new tracks, having previously won the 2023 Chicago Street Race. This achievement illustrates his rapid rise as a competitive force in the Cup Series, demonstrating his skill as a road racing expert on international soil.
The 16.567-second winning margin signifies not only a dominant performance but also underscores the potential shift in NASCAR’s competitive landscape with international drivers making a lasting impact. Van Gisbergen’s success in Mexico City signals the Cup Series’ growing global reach and the possible expansion of races beyond traditional U.S. venues.
