NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Can Stand Tall in Maiden Viva Mexico 250?
A lot of newness is in the air for NASCAR Cup Series competitors this weekend. A new track, country, elevation, and fanbase are just a few of the differences drivers will encounter in Mexico City. The famed Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez plays host to NASCAR, with Cup cars making their maiden Mexico voyage. Here are a few road course standouts who hope to be on the top step of Sunday’s podium after the Viva Mexico 250.
Shane van Gisbergen
A lot of eyeballs will be focused all weekend long on Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 88. The Trackhouse Racing driver was brought on full-time for his impeccable road course acumen. He’s hoping lightning strikes twice with inaugural race wins. SVG had never seen Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez before now, but that hasn’t dampened his mood to go chase another checkered flag.
“Another new track and new place that I’ve never been to before,” van Gisbergen said. “I’ve been doing a lot of sim lately and it’s pretty cool, a challenging and big track. There are lots of technical sections and it’s going to be very difficult. Turn 1 is going to be carnage I think with how NASCAR restarts are. It’s going to be nuts but I’m looking forward to some right handers this weekend.”
“Everyone expects us to perform on road courses. Not that we have been hanging out for it (road courses), but the ovals have been a big learning process the last couple of months. It will be nice for sure to have a bit of a break and races on the types of courses I’m used to which means turning right.”
“I know I’ll be good at them, but having an advantage, no. Other people have been there before and the unknowns, the air and how different the cars will feel with no downforce and stuff, are big. I don’t think it’s an advantage, but I certainly know I’ll be okay there.”
SVG’s season has shown some steady improvement in recent weeks. Still amidst only his second ever year of running ovals, the 88’s earned three top-20s over the last four weeks. Mired back at 33rd in points though, SVG’s only hope of a Playoff appearance will be by winning. Mexico City is the first of a few upcoming road courses where the 88 should be a contender.
Chris Buescher
SVG would already be a two-time Cup Series winner if not for Chris Buescher. At Watkins Glen last September, the RFK Racing driver out-dueled the New Zealander for his maiden road course triumph. Buescher finally earning a win was a long time coming, after 12 Next Gen road course top-10s. Coming off the heels of a Michigan runner-up, the 17 should be a stout threat again down south.
“I think (Mexico) is gonna be different,” Buescher said. “You’re just gonna try and maximize your time spent at the facility, if not on track studying what is on track and if not with your group trying to figure out what it is you need to be good there, or to be better if we’ve been on track yet. It’s definitely gonna be a different race weekend from all of those standpoints. I’m not one of the few drivers that have been down there to race in year’s past. I’ve heard stories from people on how it goes and the logistics of it and I’m getting ready to find out first hand.”
“I think what we’re trying to do right now is compare it to other racetracks that we think it has similarities to. The elevation change throughout the course is very limited, so a very flat racetrack. A lot of slow, first gear corners, trying to take that into account. Obviously we’ve been on the simulator over at Ford, running laps, been on iRacing running laps. Just trying to make sure you know when you get to the end of that straightaway if you’re turning left or right, that’s kind of important. Trying to at least feel like we’re putting our best foot forward knowing it’s going to be a great opportunity for us, and how good our road course cars have been.”
Buescher’s turned into a not-so-sleeper pick for every road course in the Next Gen Car. Combined with recent speed shown from the 17, Buescher may just fall into a perfect storm on Sunday and find victory lane again.
Tyler Reddick
Another road course ace who can never be counted out, Tyler Reddick’s shockingly still winless in 2025. Reddick’s road course acumen has been proven with victories at Road America, the Indy RC, and most recently at COTA. Factors from all three of these tracks are present in Mexico City. This could lead to a breakout 2025 run for team 45.
The 23XI Racing driver is in a comfortable Playoff standings position, but late-race execution woes have kept him from a few checkered flags. Reddick’s pace on intermediates has been some of the best in the series. Everyone also knows that driver 45 is out for blood when right turns are involved though. Expect Reddick to perhaps be the fastest Toyota this weekend.
Chase Elliott
One would be quick to dismiss Chase Elliott’s road course talent as handicapped by the Next Gen Car. The seven-time road course winner in the Gen 6 car has yet to find similar success after 2021. In this timespan since winning, however, Elliott does have 14 top-15s in 20 starts. In a similar vein to his results everywhere as of late, Elliott’s been good not great at Next Gen road courses. Driver 9 shared some of his optimism for NASCAR’s large venture traveling south of the border.
“(NASCAR has) been willing to try some things and not all of them have worked, and I think that’s OK,” Elliott said. “But some of them have been really great ideas, and I think leaving the country is probably a pretty good one in the long-term scheme of the growth of the sport and the type of audience we can reach. We’ll kind of see how it goes, obviously, the logistics of doing that versus going to Europe or something along those lines would be totally different. I think it’s a good way to kind of dip your toes in the water and see what it’s like from a travel perspective. I think the race track is kind of tried and true and it’ll be a good show.”
Currently ranked fifth in overall points, Elliott appears to be on the cusp of finding victory lane again. His most recent win at Texas came after a 42-race dry spell, a stat that the 9’s now equaled. Back-to-back 15th-place runs may show little momentum for Elliott, but he did lead laps at Michigan before a penalty. Should Elliott win Mexico, he would tie Tony Stewart for second-most road course wins in Cup history
AJ Allmendinger
NASCAR’s winningest road course racer across all three series, AJ Allmendinger could make some noise in Mexico. The past open wheel star does have past laps around Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, most recently a runner-up result here in 2005. Allmendinger reflected on his memories from competing here a generation ago.
“It’s kind of crazy to think about it’s been 20 years since I’ve raced in Mexico City,” Allmendinger said. “The racetrack is beautiful, and the atmosphere is going to be absolutely insane. It’’ll be a packed house and the fans are always fantastic there. I’m looking forward to going out there and getting on the racetrack. Obviously, we know this is a good opportunity to have a really good result if we execute like I know we can. It’s going to be a fun weekend. The weather could be interesting and throw curveballs, but we’ll have to be ready for that and look to have a solid weekend.”
Kaulig Racing has taken a noticeable step forward in performance this season. Allmendinger’s No. 16 is in a dogfight around the Playoff bubble battle, currently slotted 19th in standings and only 18 points out of the top-16. A season and career-defining victory could be at Allmendinger’s hands on Sunday. A win would put Kaulig Racing into their maiden Playoff appearance.
Daniel Suarez
Perhaps no more hype will be on any driver all season long than with Daniel Suarez this weekend. Mexico’s home grown hero, the Monterrey native and past Xfinity Series champion will have the entire crowd in his corner. Suarez has already called this race one of the biggest of his career. He’s beaming with happiness no matter the end result.
“I’m super excited, regardless of what happens on Sunday,” Suarez said. “Super excited for the event. I’m super excited to live the moment because the first time is going to only happen once. I’m really trying to be as present as possible; enjoy the moment and try to execute the best possible weekend that we can. We know that we are capable of winning the race, but that’s not the goal. The goal is the execution of the entire weekend, and hopefully the win is the result of the execution part.”
Suarez will be no stranger to on-track time this weekend, running double-duty in the Xfinity Series as well. Despite being from Mexico, Suarez has not turned any prior laps on this layout. Suarez’s maiden Cup triumph came a few short years ago at another road course–Sonoma Raceway. It would be on brand for Trackhouse Racing to take the inaugural Mexico victory with Suarez behind the wheel.
Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250 may just be the most anticipated NASCAR date of 2025, following a Herculean effort to make this event reality. Aurtodromo Hermanos Rodriguez has flair and characteristics from many other NASCAR road courses all combined into one. The green flag will fly just after 3 p.m. ET on Prime Video, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. This technical world-class facility should put on a show like no other for the Cup Series.
Written by Peter Stratta
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