NASCAR Rumor: NASCAR eyes possible Cup race on Brazil oval

In the heart of South America’s motorsport heartland, a high-stakes showdown is unfolding—not on the track, but in boardrooms and city halls across Brazil. On November 12, 2025, Giovanni Guerra, president of the Brazilian Motorsport Confederation (CBA), dropped a bombshell: a state-of-the-art banked oval track is officially in the works, igniting fierce competition among Goiânia, Brasília, and São Paulo to snag hosting rights for NASCAR and IndyCar events.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

“This is the dawn of a new era for Brazilian racing,” Guerra declared in a statement that has fans and officials buzzing, as the country positions itself as NASCAR’s next international frontier.

The announcement, first breaking on Reddit’s r/NASCAR community before rippling through global motorsport media, builds on NASCAR Brasil’s rapid ascent since its 2023 launch. The series, which ballooned to 21 races across nine rounds in 2025, has already embraced oval racing at venues like Curvelo, honing driver skills on banked layouts that echo the thunder of Bristol or Pocono.

But Guerra’s vision is bigger: a purpose-built tri-oval, potentially mirroring Pocono’s iconic triangle, aimed squarely at luring full-fledged NASCAR Cup Series or IndyCar showdowns. “We’re not just building tracks; we’re building rivalries that will put Brazil on the world map,” he told local outlets, emphasizing the CBA’s 2025-2029 strategic plan, which prioritizes oval infrastructure to bridge Stock Car Brasil’s road-course dominance with American-style speed.

The city battle is as intense as a late-race restart. Goiânia, with its historic racing pedigree and central location, is pitching aggressive upgrades to its international kart circuit as a launchpad.

Brasília, the capital, leverages federal backing and untapped land for a massive 2.5-mile facility, while São Paulo—the economic powerhouse—dangles the carrot of Interlagos’ global fame, proposing hybrid events blending ovals with the F1 circuit’s flair. Cidreira, a coastal gem in Rio Grande do Sul, has emerged as a wildcard, with plans to transform an abandoned stadium into a Bristol-esque short oval, complete with steep 36-degree banking for heart-pounding short-track action.

“These bids aren’t just about asphalt; they’re about jobs, tourism, and igniting a passion for oval racing in a nation that’s always chased speed,” Guerra added, noting the healthy competition could fast-track multiple projects.

NASCAR’s brass is all in. The sanctioning body’s global push hit warp speed this year, with a landmark Cup race at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in June 2025 drawing record crowds and proving international ovals aren’t a pipe dream.

Commissioner Steve Phelps, fresh off a June visit to Brazil, teased more in an exclusive with Motorsport.com: “São Paulo’s energy is electric—we’re talking driver academies, youth programs, and yes, a potential Clash at the Coliseum-style opener in 2026.” Insiders whisper that the Brazil Clash could headline the 2026 schedule, capitalizing on Circuito dos Cristais’ freshly minted 0.776-mile oval, which hosted NASCAR Brasil’s 2024 finale and returns for Stock Car in 2025 after an eight-year hiatus.

This isn’t NASCAR’s first tango abroad—the series has staged Cup events in Japan, Canada, and Mexico over the decades—but Brazil represents uncharted territory. With Xfinity and Cup races locked in for Mexico next season, the oval blueprint from Curvelo and Cristais provides the template. Drivers are on board too: “Racing under those lights in São Paulo? Sign me up,” quipped a top Cup star in Oversteer48’s February report on the brewing plans. The CBA’s driver development pipeline, blending local talent with NASCAR scouts, could unearth the next international sensation.

Challenges loom, of course. Funding battles, environmental hurdles, and syncing with IndyCar’s packed calendar could delay shovels hitting dirt. Yet, as Guerra rallies the cities—”May the best oval win”—Brazil’s motorsport renaissance feels inevitable. In a sport where speed begets stories, this rivalry promises chapters that’ll echo from Daytona to the Amazon. By 2026, the checkered flag might fly over a Brazilian bank, redefining “going global” one turn at a time.