NASCAR News: Despite sparse crowd, NASCAR hopeful of return to Mexico City

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City has played host to Formula 1 races for several years to packed grandstands. This year, the NASCAR Cup Series made its debut at the facility and the attendance was tepid, with many grandstands empty.

INDYCAR could possibly add Mexico City to their schedule in 2026 as both NASCAR and INDYCAR look to increase their North American fan bases. IndyCar will draw even less fans unless they give tickets away for free.

NASCAR and IndyCar are worried about F1’s rise in popularity in North America. They have enough trouble selling tickets to some races as it is.

Whether NASCAR returns will be determined in the next couple of months. NASCAR and promoter OCESA must evaluate the first trip of Cup to Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and the first visit south of the border of any NASCAR national series in 17 years. The question is how much money OCESA lost. This will determine if they will invite NASCAR back. There were reports in Mexico that they sold only 15,000 grandstand seats and the rest were freebies.

It had been 67 years since NASCAR had staged a Cup points race outside the United States.

“We believe that our communities share a spirit of optimism and desire to improve the lives of our people through collaboration and connection,” NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps told the drivers prior to the race. “We believe this is particularly true through sports, and in our case, motorsports. We have the honor and responsibility to excite, entertain and unite through our sport, and I know how much putting on a great show means to all of you.

“We hope that NASCAR can continue to foster meaningful relationships here in Mexico for many years to come.”

On Saturday evening, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s spotter Tab Boyd took to social media and offered his perspective of what he had experienced.

“I’m ready to go home, screw this place,” Boyd wrote. “People can talk it up all they want… can’t even walk out the front door of the hotel without getting hustled and money snatched… in less than 5 minutes. Good area my ass…”

Unsurprisingly, fans and industry members responded to Boyd’s remarks, including Jim Sauter Jr., son of the former Cup Series driver.

“I was there in 2007,” Sauter recalled. “We weren’t allowed to leave the ‘safe space of our hotel.’ It’s garbage and a garbage event. USA all the way.”

“Yeah, I tried to have an open mind, but this has pissed me off,” Boyd replied.