NASCAR Mexico Continues to Grow

The NASCAR Mexico Series has made tremendous progress in its brief history. The NASCAR Mexico Series, entering its fifth season overall and its second under the NASCAR banner, has established a strong following among the Mexican fans and become one of the most important motor sport series of in the country. The growth and interest among the public, media and sponsors has paved the way for the series to expand in 2008 throughout the Mexican Republic to take the excitement of the Championship to new cities with great fans for motor sports.

NASCAR's Mexico Invasion

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will return to Mexico City to run the Hermanos Rodriguez Autodrome road course for the third year in a row, and for the first time the NASCAR Mexico Series event on the same weekend will be a points event. Carlos Pardo won the 2007 race — the NASCAR Mexico Series Shootout — when it was a non-points race. The NASCAR Mexico Series will conclude the season at the Hermanos Rodriguez Autodrome oval course.

Rafael Martinez captured the 2007 NASCAR Mexico Series championship by just four points over Germain Quiroga. Martinez clinched his first title by finishing fourth in the final race of the season at Mexico City, which was won by Quiroga.

For 2008 season, the 14-race schedule features 11 ovals, includes three new facilities beginning with the first race at the new Queretaro Autodrome. The facility, which boasts a road course and an oval track, will host the first race of the season March 30 on the road course. The series will return Aug. 31 to run the oval.

The NASCAR Mexico Series will make its first visit to the beautiful state of Chiapas, with its rich cultural history. Located in Southeastern Mexico, the Chiapas Autodrome in Tuxtla Gutierrez will host the NASCAR Mexico Series race October 5.

Also joining the series is the city of Aguascalientes, home of one of Mexico’s top stock car drivers — Rogelio Lopez. The Aguascalientes driver recorded 15 victories, seven runner-up finishes and five third-place finishes in 42 races. In addition to being the all-time wins leader, he has the record of most pole positions with 14. The Aguascalientes city is famous for organizing one of the most important fairs of the country: The San Marcos Fair. It is in this same venue where the NASCAR Mexico Series will race at the Aguascalientes Autodrome Sept. 21.

The NASCAR Mexico Series will return to the tracks that have helped make the series so successful. The Bernardo Obregon Autodrome tri-oval in Guadalajara will host two races, May 18 and July 27. The Miguel E. Abed Autodrome in Puebla will also run a pair of races (June 15 and Aug. 17), as will the Potosino Oval in San Luis Potosi (May 4 and July 13). The 2008 NASCAR Mexico Series schedule includes a stop at the Monterrey Autodrome in Monterrey June 1 and the Zacatecas Autodrome in Zacatecas June 29.

A number of drivers are looking to challenge Martinez for the 2008 championship as the season continues to grow. Eight drivers have already committed to running for the Rookie of the Year.

2008 SEASON SCHEDULE NASCAR MEXICO SERIES

* Denotes Nationwide Series Race