NASCAR Cup stars take in the sights and sounds of Mexico City
MEXICO CITY — This is not the pina colada Cancun of your cruise ships, but a vibrant, sprawling, city center full of busy international vibes; welcoming and interesting. Smiling friendly people with places to be.
Beautiful snow-covered mountain peaks loom over Mexico City. Small, colorful taco stands decorate every corner, busy with lunch regulars. The sidewalks are filled with people and the traffic lanes are filled with mopeds and cars, door-to-door, bumper-to-bumper. Car horns and dog barks fill the air. It is a full sensory experience.
And the first big billboard rising out of the Mexico City airport? It advertises Chevrolets.
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It all speaks to the warm reception NASCAR has already received and is sure to get again for the June Cup Series race in Mexico. The warm-hearted locals cannot wait for stock car's summer arrival. Race organizers expect three days of sell-out crowds, eager to see this brand of racing at one of the world's great road course venues: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
'I feel like you are coming to my house for the very first time,' a smiling Mexico-native Daniel Suarez said Tuesday as he joined three other NASCAR Cup Series stars — Sunday's Atlanta race winner, Christopher Bell, and series champions Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott for a tour of the course and the city and its offerings.
'I love racing in the United States and it feels like home to me now, but there is no one race track I can call home — Texas, Miami, Phoenix, California are all like home because there are a lot of my fans – but it is not home. I grew up racing here. I have won races here.
'For me, this is a very special place. My very first win in the NASCAR Mexico [Series] came here at this track on the oval [configuration].
'It's fun having people here,' the Trackhouse Racing driver added. 'It's a different culture but they are very excited for the race track and for NASCAR.'
Each of the four drivers joined track management and other local dignitaries for a golf cart ride around the course, stopping at various points to look specifically at the layout.
They saw the slight variations NASCAR will use in its races, eliminating a series of turns that Formula One uses — one of several changes to the course since the last time NASCAR was here in 2005-08 for Xfinity Series races. Kyle Busch (2008) and Denny Hamlin (2006) are the only current drivers to have hoisted trophies here — each with a win on the former circuit configuration.
On Tuesday, the drivers were noticeably impressed by the paddock and famous massive grandstands that border Turns 11-14 — just a single portion of the track where 30,000 fans will sit. The facility expects upwards of 80,000 people a day in full, for the three-day event.
The track is in a green space in the middle of the busy city but inside the gates sit those massive permanent grandstands, a huge staging area used for concerts — Paul McCartney just last week — that will serve as Victory Lane. There's even a baseball stadium adjacent to the actual track.
'Honestly, I've been really impressed,' said 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. 'My initial thoughts are that is a pretty incredible property as a whole for the way they are able to rotate through events.'
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'There's the stadium section hosting concerts in an intimate way and the park section for bike riders. It's really unique and the track I think is a pretty cool layout too. I feel like it's got a little bit of everything and it's been a fun experience so far. I'd never been to Mexico City and this is pretty neat.'
The response and embrace since NASCAR announced its return to the city has been nothing short of overwhelming. Nearly 200 of the country's media outlets are expected for a press conference with the four drivers and track officials on Wednesday.
After a day of karting around the track, topped by a special taco stop at one of the city's most renowned eateries, Atarantados, the four drivers were headed to a Luche Libre show after dinner.
The city, the venue and the people all seem enthusiastic to welcome NASCAR. And judging by the smiles and energy from this visit, the feel-good attitude is reciprocated.
'First time at the track, first time in Mexico City,' said Blaney, the 2023 Cup Series champion and driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford. 'I had super high hopes before we even got here and being here and seeing it all and hearing the plan got me even more excited to come here [and race]. I think they are going to do a great job and I hope everyone's going to really enjoy it from a fan perspective.
'I know all the teams are excited to come down and it was a nice little treat today to be able to come and see the plan. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back here in the summer to race.'
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