Shane van Gisbergen demonstrated his prowess at the historic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, clinching victory in NASCAR’s inaugural Cup Series race outside the United States in the modern era. The New Zealand driver, who led 60 laps of the 100-lap race, celebrated his second Cup win after making a significant career transition from V8 Supercars to NASCAR. His previous victory at the Chicago street course in 2023 had already reshaped his trajectory.
Van Gisbergen’s achievement in Mexico City, where he started out on pole position, secures him a place in the NASCAR play-offs, revitalising his season after a challenging start. Despite ranking 33rd in the Cup standings prior to the race, he maximised his skills in the wet conditions that plagued the track early on, an area where he excels.
Before the race, he faced unusual circumstances, including illness and logistical issues that delayed his arrival. This did not deter him; in fact, he held onto the lead against formidable challengers like Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell, sealing the win with 31 laps remaining. “I felt pretty rubbish today, but our car was amazing,” he remarked after the race, praising his vehicle’s performance as he pulled away from competitors.
Prior to commencing the race, van Gisbergen sought advice from four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen regarding racing lines and strategy for the Mexico City track, demonstrating his willingness to learn and adapt. After winning, he engaged in a signature victory celebration by booting a signed football into the crowd.
The Trackhouse Racing team now has two drivers secure in the play-offs. However, teammate Daniel Suarez faced disappointment, finishing 19th after not being a factor in the race despite adorning the role of the home crowd favourite in Mexico.
Second place went to Christopher Bell, followed closely by Chase Elliott and others in a top-10 dominated by Chevrolet cars. Meanwhile, controversy brewed on the pit road as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. confronted Carson Hocevar after the race, expressing his frustrations stemming from multiple previous encounters.
Kyle Busch faced a setback as he crashed out early in the race, finishing last after struggling to maintain control on the wet surface.
In a celebratory twist, NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon opened the event by delivering the famous command to start engines in both English and Spanish, capturing the event’s international flavour. The next NASCAR race will take place at Pocono Raceway, continuing the series’ momentum following the historic event in Mexico City.