NASCAR fans have grown accustomed to seeing speed, throttle and braking on broadcasts for years. There has been one measurement, though, that has eluded networks and viewers for years.

Until now.

Viewers of the Prime Video races have been able to see fuel usage with the introduction of the Burn Bar. Race teams have measured burn rates and fuel levels down to the last ounce for years, but the methodology has been kept secret for competitive reasons.

Prime Video, though, developed an AI tool using car data available to broadcasters and teams that can measure miles per gallon. The Burn Bar made a brief appearance during Prime’s first broadcast, the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25. It has been used more frequently the past two weeks and will be deployed again on Sunday during the race in Mexico City.

NASCAR on Prime analyst Steve Letarte, a former crew chief for Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., contributed to the development of the Burn Bar and sees it as the first step in taking race analysis to a new level.

“It’s the first true tool that is taking information off the car, making calculations and then displaying to the fan a calculation or measurement that is being used in the garage. And it does affect the team,” he said. “There’s not a sensor on the car giving us miles per gallon. It’s a mathematical calculation of other cars performances.”

The AI model analyzes thousands of performance data per second, including a range of in-car telemetry signals, RPMs, throttle and optical tracking of each car’s position. The model then evaluates each driver’s fuel consumption and efficiency throughout the race.

Letarte worked with Prime Video “Thursday Night Football Prime Vision” analyst Sam Schwartzstein and Amazon Web Services during the process. They came up with four methodologies that were tested during the first part of the season, which was broadcast by Fox. Schwartzstein and Letarte would then get the data from teams after races to see how close they were until they picked one that worked the best.

The Burn Bar received its toughest test during last week’s race at Michigan as the final 48 laps were run without a caution flag. Most teams made their final pit stops with 50 laps to go, meaning teams were going to be down to the end of their fuel runs at the checkered flag.

“We projected William Byron to run out, which he did, and then we were on the razor’s edge for Denny Hamlin. And then watching the truck push him back into victory lane at the end, knowing he was as close as we thought he was. What a cool way to see this feature come to life and elevate NASCAR broadcasts,” Schwartzstein said.

Alex Strand, Prime Video’s senior coordinating producer for live sports, also sees the Burn Bar as the first tool of many that Amazon and Prime Video can develop for its coverage. Prime Video is in the first year of a seven-year agreement to carry five races per season.

“It’s really cool to live in a world where it shows us that anything is possible. We’re starting with something that we’re really excited about, but it’s setting us down a path that will open up new doors for us,” he said. “I think that’s what we’re really excited about is to say, ‘OK, we’ve had success in Year 1 on a feature that’s resonated with fans right out of the gate.’ It raises the table for our offseason.”

After Sunday’s race in Mexico City, Prime Video’s coverage for this season wraps up with the race at Pocono on June 22.

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AP NASCAR: https://apnews.com/hub/nascar-racing

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press

Mexican Racing Sensation Daniel Suárez Takes NASCAR by Storm, Inspiring Young Hispanic Drivers to Chase Their Dreams

In a groundbreaking event, NASCAR’s Cup Series is making history by heading to Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the first time ever, and the spotlight is shining brightly on Mexican driver Daniel Suárez. Hailing from Monterrey, Suárez is not only showcasing his racing skills but also proudly representing his home country to the world.

Dubbed as “Daniel’s Amigos,” a group of enthusiastic Mexican fans are following Suárez’s journey in the U.S., where he has become a symbol of hope for aspiring Hispanic drivers. By demonstrating that success in NASCAR is attainable, Suárez is paving the way for the next generation of Mexican racers to break into the sport.

Among the rising stars influenced by Suárez is Regina Sivient, the first Mexican woman to compete in the ARCA Menards Series, and Eloy Falcon, a talented 20-year-old driver from Mexico City. Both drivers are making waves in the racing scene, fueled by Suárez’s trailblazing path to success.

Sivient highlighted the significance of NASCAR’s presence in Mexico, emphasizing the exposure it provides for drivers of Mexican heritage. Drawing a parallel to the impact of Checo Perez in Formula 1, Sivient stressed the importance of visibility and sponsorship for athletes to thrive in the competitive world of racing.

The NASCAR Mexico Series, where Suárez kickstarted his career before moving to the U.S., played a pivotal role in his journey to the top-tier Xfinity and Cup Series. While the future of NASCAR fandom in Mexico remains uncertain, Suárez’s influence is sure to ignite a new wave of enthusiasm among racing enthusiasts in the country.

As the Cup race in Mexico unfolds, the echoes of “Ole” are set to reverberate across the track, signifying a new era in Mexican motorsports. Daniel Suárez’s impact transcends borders, inspiring a generation of young Hispanic drivers to chase their dreams on the fast lane.

By KEN HAMRICK, Courier sports editor

ALAMOSA – BST Promotions will present the Father’s Day Show and the Colorado Alliance Tour Sunday at Mosca Motorsports Park.

There will be several different race car divisions participating including modifieds, stock cars, sport mods, hobby stocks, compacts, warriors, bombers, dwarfs, mod-lites and junior compacts.

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 military, seniors and youth ages 13-17, and $5 for kids ages 6-12. Kids ages 5 and younger will be admitted free of charge.

Pit passes are $35 for adults, $20 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids ages 5 and younger.

There will be a pit meeting and packing at 2 p.m., and racing begins at 3 p.m.

The NASCAR Cup Series will make history on Sunday when the 2025 Viva Mexico 250 is contested at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. It’s the first points race that has ever been held outside the United States at NASCAR’s highest level and is another attempt by the sport to expand its global reach. New Zealand driver Shane Van Gisbergen gave NASCAR an international bump when he won the 2023 Chicago Street Race in his first NASCAR Cup Series start as a road ringer. Now, he’s a full-time Cup driver and the +330 favorite in the 2025 Viva Mexico 250 odds. He’s followed in the NASCAR in Mexico odds by Christopher Bell (+700), Tyler Reddick (+800), Kyle Larson (+800) and William Byron (+800).

The green flag drops at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday and the race is scheduled for 100 laps around the 17-turn, 2.674-mile road course. Before entering any 2025 Viva Mexico 250 picks, NASCAR DFS lineups on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel, or locking in NASCAR props on sites like PrizePicks, Sleeper Fantasy, and Underdog Fantasy, be sure to see the latest 2025 NASCAR at Mexico predictions from SportsLine’s proven projection model.

Developed by daily Fantasy pro and SportsLine predictive data engineer Mike McClure, this proprietary NASCAR prediction model simulates every race 10,000 times, taking into account factors such as track history and recent results.

The model began its 2025 season by calling Chase Elliott to win for a +300 payout at the Clash at Bowman Gray and was also high on Byron as a +2000 longshot at Daytona. Then it predicted Kyle Larson’s win in Miami for a +350 payout, Christopher Bell’s +600 triumph in the NASCAR All-Star Race and Denny Hamlin’s +650 victory in Michigan. In 2024, it nailed Larson to win in Las Vegas for a 21-5 sports betting payout and predicted Denny Hamlin’s wins in Bristol at 5-1 and Richmond at 17-4.

It also impressively nailed five of Larson’s wins during his historic season in 2021. All told, the model has nailed a whopping 22 winners since 2021. Anyone who followed its lead on betting apps and sportsbooks on those NASCAR picks could have seen huge returns. New users also have the opportunity to take advantage of the latest Bet365 promo code, Caesars Sportsbook promo code and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

Now, the model simulated the 2025 Viva Mexico 250 10,000 times. Head to SportsLine to see the complete projected NASCAR at Mexico City leaderboard.

Top 2025 Viva Mexico 250 predictions

For the 2025 Viva Mexico 250, the model is high on Michael McDowell, even though he’s a +2200 longshot in the latest 2025 NASCAR at Mexico odds. He’s a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. The 40-year-old is in his 18th season racing in the NASCAR Cup Series and he has two victories under his belt, including a win in the 2021 Daytona 500 and a road race triumph in the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

McDowell began his racing career as an open-wheel driver and his comfortability on road courses has helped him stay competitive in NASCAR. Of the 45 career top-10 finishes that McDowell has recorded, 11 have come in road races. Earlier this season in Austin, he led three laps on his way to a solid 11th-place finish and he’ll be looking to Mexico City to jumpstart his season after only recording one top 10 over the first 15 races of the season. BetMGM is offering the best odds here for McDowell and you can also build in first-bet insurance with the latest BetMGM promo code.

The model has also revealed one of its surprising NASCAR prop bets for Sunday: Daniel Suarez finishes top five for a +200 payout. The only Mexican driver in the 2025 Viva Mexico 250 field, Suarez has had an underwhelming season by his standards after piling up two wins, 13 top fives and 32 top 10s over the last three years and making the NASCAR playoffs twice. He’s only recorded three top-10 finishes in 2025 and is 28th in the NASCAR standings but has a golden opportunity to win his way into the postseason on Sunday.

In addition to being the crowd favorite, Suarez has been a road racing specialist throughout his career. He won at Sonoma in 2022 and has recorded six of his 23 career top-five finishes on road courses. Earlier this season in Austin, he qualified fifth and earned points in each of the first two stages of the race, but a crash led to a 36th-place finish. Trackhouse Racing also had Ross Chastain finish just outside the top 10 in that race, so they should be able to provide some speed in Mexico City. The model sees +200 odds at FanDuel as plenty of value, and new users can also get the latest FanDuel promo code. See which other drivers to avoid and the rest of the projected NASCAR leaderboard at SportsLine.

How to make 2025 NASCAR at Mexico picks

The model is also targeting three other drivers with Mexico NASCAR odds of 12-1 or longer to make a serious run at the checkered flag. Anyone who backs these drivers could hit it big. You can see all of the model’s NASCAR picks, props, and projected leaderboard over at SportsLine.

So who wins the 2025 Viva Mexico 250, and which longshots are must-backs? Check out the latest 2025 NASCAR at Mexico odds below, then visit SportsLine now to see the full NASCAR Mexico projected leaderboard, all from the model that has nailed 22 winners, and find out.

2025 NASCAR Mexico odds, drivers, lineup

See the full NASCAR at Mexico picks at SportsLine

Shane Van Gisbergen +330
Christopher Bell +700
William Byron +800
Tyler Reddick +800
Kyle Larson +800
Chase Elliott +1000
AJ Allmendinger +1200
Kyle Busch +1400
Daniel Suarez +1400
Chris Buescher +1600
Ross Chastain +1800
Michael McDowell +1800
Alex Bowman +2500
Carson Hocevar +2800
Chase Briscoe +3000
Ty Gibbs +3000
Austin Cindric +3500
Denny Hamlin +4000
Ryan Blaney +4000
Joey Logano +5500
Todd Gilliland +15000
Bubba Wallace +15000
Brad Keselowski +15000
Noah Gragson +20000
Ryan Preece +20000
Justin Haley +20000
Austin Dillon +20000
Zane Smith +25000
Cole Custer +25000
Josh Berry +30000
Riley Herbst +30000
Erik Jones +30000
Ricky Stenhouse +40000
John Hunter Nemechek +40000
Ty Dillon +100000
Katherine Legge +100000
Cody Ware +100000

Nick Tandy knows he’s standing on the precipice of history. With wins at Daytona and Sebring this year, he’s in the unique position — alongside fellow Porsche Penske Motorsport drivers Felipe Nasr and Laurens Vanthoor — to be the first to win the triple crown of endurance racing within the space of a calendar year. But, that won’t change his approach to this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

“Of course it would be something unbelievably special, however… the idea of winning Le Mans in any year stands alone by itself,” Tandy tells Motorsport.com, “If you get it and you add to making a triple crown, it’s just extra special, of course, but it doesn’t change what we’re going to do, it doesn’t change anything preparation wise or anything going into Le Mans because as a standalone event, it’s our World Cup final, it’s premier event in motorsport.  

“Anytime you go there with a good car and a good team, and a potential chance to win, you have to put in a 100-percent effort and 100-percent preparation in any way.” 

#7: Porsche Penske Motorsports, Porsche 963, GTP: Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, Laurens Vanthoor, on the podium celebrating their 2025 Rolex 24 win

Photo by: LAT Images

Tandy’s Daytona win in January made him the first driver to win all the major 24-hour endurance races in the world outright, Daytona, Spa, Nürburgring, and Le Mans. He says that it was only after the Daytona win that he started to appreciate the feat. He has a similar view about Le Mans. 

“When you look back after, and see the accomplishment, that’s when it starts to mean something,” he says. “When you’re actually part of the event, or part of the race, or part of the sport, each event and each week is just as important as any other. For sure it would be great in 30 years to say, ‘Wow, we were the first, or the only drivers and team to do the Triple Crown in a single season,’ but the focus and being in the moment now, winning Le Mans is its own standalone event.” 

This year, Tandy will run in the #4 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963, an additional entry for Le Mans, alongside his IMSA teammate Nasr and defending Formula E champion Pascal Wehrlein. With Nasr, Tandy has won the first three of five rounds already completed in the 2025 IMSA Sportscar Championship, with podiums at every race. And while Ferrari has dominated WEC this year and won Le Mans the last two, you can never count out Porsche at Le Mans.  

Tandy says that the prep has been “a lot” smoother this year than in previous years, simply because of this team’s prior experience with this car at Le Mans. “We’re better prepared for sure. We know what to expect, we know what we’re going to struggle with, what we’re going to be good with, and how to manage those things. So, from a driver’s point of view, it’s no real changes.” He also notes that the 963’s reliability has improved in its two years of running.  

Still, smoother prep doesn’t mean there’s no pressure. “When Porsche Motorsport goes to Le Mans with any car, any entry, they’re going for a reason,” Tandy says. There is a big pressure racing for a brand like that because you’re expected to be performing, you’re expected to be at the front, and you’re expected to win ultimately.” 

But the team’s operational improvements and the car’s reliability gains alleviate some pressure and allow Tandy and the team to focus on finer details. “If it’s all relaxed and nobody’s worried about ‘Are we going to get this right? Are we going to get this wrong? Are we capable of doing things? Are we not?’ Everyone has more mental capacity and more time to focus on performance.” 

#4 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, Pascal Wehrlein

Photo by: Andreas Beil

Tandy also has the fun challenge of integrating Wehrlein into the team. Not only is this his first 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it’s also his third endurance race ever. He made his debut with a Porsche customer team at Daytona earlier this year and ran with the factory team at the Spa 6 Hours in prep for this race.  

“Pascal’s a world-champion professional, so we’ll find out on race weekend, but it didn’t work out too badly the last time Porsche got a group of drivers that hadn’t raced together and put them in a car at Le Mans,” Tandy says. He’s of course referring to his 2015 Le Mans victory in the Porsche 919, where he was paired with Earl Bamber and Nico Hulkenberg. 

“I think it’s important to pass on your experience and let them know what’s likely to be expected from all of us, and honestly, it’s like building a family bond,” Tandy says. “Because this is the thing, you give your baby, effectively, which is the race car, you might be with your baby for three to four hours on track, and then you hand it off to somebody else.” 

Tandy says it’s his job to elevate the team as much as it is to turn quick laps. “I think an underestimated part of endurance racing especially is being able to motivate and work with and help teammates and help the team. 

“It hasn’t worked too badly for us in the past, and in the recent past, so I’m looking forward to it.” 

It’s one of the busiest racing weekends of the year, providing lots more ways to keep racing fans on the sofa instead of doing whatever it is they’re supposed to be doing around the house.

Here’s your quick guide to making sure you don’t miss a single lap today. (All times Eastern.)

LE MANS 24 HOURS

The granddaddy of endurance racing runs twice around the clock on the nearllnearly eight and a half-mile Circuit de la Sarthe.

What time is the race? Saturday, 9:00am

What channel is the race on? Motor Trend

Where can I stream the race? Max and FIAWEC.TV

FORMULA 1

The F1 World Championship returns to North America for the Canadian Grand Prix on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Today’s action includes practice and qualifying.

What time is qualifying? Saturday, 3:55pm

What channel is qualifying on? ESPN2

Where can I stream qualifying? F1TV Pro

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

It’s back to the ovals for IndyCar this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway, previously known as Gateway, in Madison, Ill. Qualifying is today, with the race under the lights tomorrow night.

What time is qualifying? Saturday, 3:00pm

What channel is qualifying on? FS1

NASCAR CUP & XFINITY SERIES

NASCAR’s first international sojourn in many years is this weekend on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course in Mexico City, Mexico. Today the Xfinity Series races, along with qualifying for Sunday’s Cup race.

What time is Xfinity Series qualifying? Saturday, 12:00pm

What channel is Xfinity qualifying on? Streaming on the CW App

What time is Cup Series qualifying? Saturday, 2:05pm

What channel is Cup qualifying on? Streaming on Prime Video

What time is the Xfinity Series race? Saturday, 4:30pm

What channel is the Xfinity race on? CW

Also on track Saturday: IndyCar practice, Indy NXT qualifying at WWTR, along with FIM Speedway action and more on RACER Network and the RACER+ App. See RACER’s weekly TV guide for full weekend coverage details.