The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The Viva México 250 will take center stage, and ahead of all the action, Kevin Harvick and the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour crew are locking in their predictions.

First, Kaitlyn Vincie got the fun started. She’s riding with a veteran road course savant to get his first win of 2025: “This is going to be interesting, because we don’t really know who could win this weekend,” Vincie prefaced. “I’m going to go with AJ Allmendinger.”

Allmendinger is certainly a contender. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, he’s +1500 to get the dub. If he does, he’ll lock himself into the playoffs, which would be huge for Kaulig Racing.

In response, Harvick was slightly surprised with Vincie’s pick. It opened up the door for him to go with the favorite in Shane van Gisbergen: “That’s a big surprise,” Harvick responded. “I thought you’d take the favorite. SVG.”

While van Gisbergen is thought of as a threat on road courses, his performance at intermediate tracks has left a bit to be desired. However, he turned in a solid showing in Michigan this past weekend, finishing P18 when the checkered flag waved. 

With Mexico City on the docket, van Gisbergen is currently P33 in the overall point standings. He only has one top ten on the season, so a win is more important to him at one of these road courses than anything. He’ll be going for broke at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and Harvick thinks he’ll get it done.

Meanwhile, Mamba Smith is thinking of a different Trackhouse Racing wheelman when it comes to this weekend’s race. He thinks Mexico native Daniel Suarez can rise above and win in heroic fashion.

“I was going to take AJ. You know what? Because I just feel like there’s some magic in the air, and he needs it anyway. I’m going with the hometown boy. Just give me Daniel Suarez,” Smith predicted. “Why not? Home cooking.”

Like his teammate SVG, a win would mean the world to Suarez. He’s back in P28 in the overall point standings, only nothing one top five in 2025. He needs it if he’s going to make the playoffs, and Smith is hoping it comes to fruition.

All told, it’s anyone’s guess who gets to Victory Lane during the NASCAR Cup Series’ trip to Mexico. It should be a fascinating event at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. We’ll see who makes history and takes the checkered flag.

Katherine Legge has raced anything and everything. Her storied career includes four Indianapolis 500 starts, most recently in 2024. She found success in sports cars, competing in multiple endurance classics, such as the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

With last month’s Indy 500 not on Legge’s racing radar in 2025, she switched her attention to NASCAR. It’s a move that happened by chance, though she first felt the adrenaline of stock car racing in 2018, making four Xfinity Series starts for JD Motorsports.

Advertisement

She fell in love with stock cars immediately, with a best finish of 14th at Road America.

“I loved it and wanted to do more, I just didn’t know how to go about it,” Legge told NASCAR.com about her move to NASCAR. “I’m lucky that my sponsors pivoted with me and we’re all in on NASCAR.

“It was something that I felt incredibly passionate about doing. I have so much fun doing it and am so motivated. I’m working hard at it. I really want to make this home.”

RELATED: e.l.f. Cosmetics to sponsor Legge for multiple Cup, Xfinity races

The joy for Legge in her first go-around was jostling the heavy cars around road courses. Her oval debut in NASCAR came at Richmond Raceway in 2018, finishing 28th in a 40-car field.

Advertisement

“It’s super fun to drive the cars; you were wrestling with them the whole time,” Legge reflects on her initial voyage. “It’s like Champ Car — we had to wrestle those beasts around the track.

“[NASCAR is] not easy. It’s one of the hardest championships to chase in the world because of the strength and depth. There are so many good drivers over here that are widely versed in stock car racing.”

Legge began hunting for rides in February when the 2025 season began. She made her Cup debut for Live Fast Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway, though she was initially eyeing Circuit of The Americas one week prior as her first attempt. Her initial race didn’t go as planned as she was involved in multiple incidents and contacted Daniel Suárez in the process, ending his day.

“It was a big uphill battle, but I respect the challenge and am not blind that it is a challenge going in with a team that wants to set out to be a entry to people like me into Cup,” Legge said. “They know where they are at and what they want to achieve. It was going to be my first foray and fly under the radar and that didn’t happen. I wanted to use it to gain experience.”

After bowing out of full-time competition, Live Fast team owner BJ McLeod wants to turn his part-time entry into a developmental ride to help rising talent. He’s aware of Legge’s credentials and hopes to get her acclimated, with their next opportunity slated for Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Advertisement

MORE: Mexico City schedule | Cup Series entry list for Mexico City

“It’s the toughest thing that she’s ever come across,” McLeod said of Legge adapting to the Cup Series. “I don’t know that she would tell you that, but I can tell you that the group of drivers that get to do [Cup] every week are truly some of the best drivers in the world. All of them are that good. Not one, not 20, not 30, all 36 or however many are there. They truly are that good, and it makes it extremely difficult for her because even if she’s equally as talented, she doesn’t get to race every week. She is the only part-timer that’s trying to get out there, get up to speed and she has very limited stock car experience.”

Chevrolet paired Legge with Jordan Anderson Racing in the Xfinity Series following her introduction to Cup racing. The goal was to get the England native more starts.

In addition to full-time drivers Jeb Burton and Blaine Perkins, Anderson occasionally fields a third entry. With limited on-track experience, he believes Legge has done a masterful job getting up to speed, even though the results would indicate otherwise.

Advertisement

“I know she’s been baptized through fire coming in this way,” Anderson said. “With [25] minutes of practice, it’s hard enough to learn a track, let alone a new car.

“The speed is there if we make her comfortable. I’ve been impressed with her time in the sim and how she adapts and the things she picks up, the time she has spent studying. This isn’t a fly-by-night project for her; she’s wanting to prove her worth and come in here and learn and do the right things.”

It was key that Legge diversified her schedule. She also wanted to run consecutively, beginning with NASCAR’s return to Rockingham Speedway. She failed to qualify, but the team struck a deal with Joey Gase Motorsports to field her. She led a lap in her second start at Talladega Superspeedway and was running midpack when she was collected in a multicar incident that began towards the front of the field. She has DNF’d in three of four starts and failed to qualify in the series’ most recent race at Nashville Superspeedway.

“It’s been good, bad and indifferent,” Legge said. “I have been taken out in every race in some form or another. The only one that I think was down to me was Phoenix, which started it all. After that, it’s been a lot of carnage.”

Legge is delighted that her two car owners are fellow racers with McLeod and Anderson. She has leaned on them, along with AJ Allmendinger, whom she’s known for two decades, and Xfinity veteran Justin Allgaier.

Advertisement

Compared to other racing series, Legge believes breaking into NASCAR is the hardest. She has limited oval starts and is going to new venues. The divisions are also stacked with established talent.

“NASCAR is especially challenging for the sheer number of good drivers,” Legge added. “It’s a tough beast to tame, but I’m up for the challenge.”

While overcoming multiple hurdles in Legge’s short NASCAR stint, she has learned plenty about herself. She is up for any racing task, though she believes she was humbled in some ways.

“I thought that I was a lot better than I am,” Legge admitted with a chuckle. “I have no doubt that I’ll get there. But how quickly? I thought I would drive the car a couple of times and then be up at the sharp end, but it’s taking a little longer than I anticipated.”

Advertisement

The next beast for Legge to tame is the Cup Series’ international debut at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez this weekend, again competing for Live Fast. Her second half of the season continues filling up, with Cup starts at the Chicago Street Race, Sonoma Raceway, Watkins Glen International and Richmond Raceway on the docket. She has a pair of Xfinity Series races left in the No. 32 car at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, though she is trying to bulk up her racing allotment.

MORE: Cup Series schedule | Xfinity Series schedule

The goals for the upcoming events are to log laps and gain experience.

“Bottom line, I’m not going there looking to outpace anyone,” McLeod admitted. “What I’m expecting is to go there and give her a solid car so that she can learn and develop her skills and try to get her closer to reaching her goals.”

Legge hopes to go full time at some point in NASCAR, though she isn’t shutting the door on running the Indy 500 again.

Kevin Brannon wins 18 straight rounds at the Sean Serra Memorial race to lead the DragChamp Top 10 List, presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance

06/11/25 – We’ve accumulated the best performers from the past week for the Top 10 List presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. Read below to see how they ranked.

Racecar insurance is more affordable than you think! Laris Motorsports Insurance policies are handled in house so they can provide quotes within minutes and they offer the broadest coverage available. Call (985) 746-4663 today to learn how Laris Motorsports Insurance can protect your racing operation both on and off the track! If you’re a business owner, Laris also offers commercial insurance. Protect your business with a trusted name.

Want to check out previous Top 10 Lists, click here.

DragChamp Top 10 List

1 – Kevin Brannon

KB was doing KB things at the Sean Serra Memorial race this past weekend. Kevin turned on 18 straight win lights to sweep the weekend winning $20,000 on Saturday and $31,390 on Sunday! His unbelievable run over the weekend also earned him the MVP title.

2 – Spencer Lacy

Spencer Lacy enjoyed a big weekend at Norwalk which included two wins, a runner-up, and a semifinal finish. Lacy won the Box Gamblers race on Friday while also posting a semifinal finish in No Box. He added a runner-up in Super Pro on Saturday and finished the weekend with a victory in the Pro class.

3 – Mason Fix

Mason Fix sits in the #3 spot this week after an impressive weekend at the Line Up Triple 10K’s. His weekend included a Gambler runner-up, two No Box wins, and a Main Event runner-up and semi.

4 – Devin O’Brien

Devin O’Brien makes a Top 10 appearance after winning the Ultimate 64 Shootout main event.

5 – T.G. Paschal

T.G Paschal earned a Top 5 spot after cashing for $20,000 Friday night at the Sean Serra Memorial race.

6 – Darian Boesch

Darian Boesch makes another Top 10 appearance after driving to two final round appearances in Bristol. Running the rain-delayed Gatornationals, Darian made 11 rounds between his Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Camaro to find himself in both finals. While he came up short in the Top Dragster final, he still has another shot at a Wally when the Top Sportsman final is completed at a future event.

7 – Scott Dugdale

Scott Dugdale doubled up in the Stock/Super Stock Combo class winning 10 straight rounds at Brainerd International Raceway.

8 – Charlie Lockhart

Charlie Lockhart lands in the #8 spot after making three final round appearances in the last two weeks. A week ago Charlie won No Box and was runner-up to his brother Wesley in Super Pro at Gleason. This past weekend, Charlie won the No Box class at Beacon to lock in a Top 10 spot.

9 – Michael Pliska

Michael Pliska took home a $5,000 victory and the weekend MVP award at the Woodburn Dragway Summer Showdown. Pliska won the most rounds at the event while also posting the most dead-on laps. As a matter of fact, Pliska used the same 5.70 dial-in all three days of the event!

10 – Pat Debottis

Pat Debottis had a great day on Saturday at the Rockin Super Shootout at Mid Michigan. He made his way to both the Super Gas and Super Comp finals taking the win in Super Gas and a runner-up in Super Comp.

Let us know what you think about the DragChamp Top 10 List. We want to hear from you. Check us out on Facebook and share it with your friends.

And remember, look for our DragChamp Top 10 List nominations Facebook post every Monday evening. You can nominate your favorites in the comments of the post for consideration on the list.

DragChamp is your online source for sportsman drag race results, news, and updates.

The No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 has been disqualified from Wednesday evening’s Le Mans 24 Hours Qualifying session for failing to meet the minimum weight in post-qualifying technical inspection.

As a consequence, defending FIA World Hypercar Endurance Champions Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor, and co-driver Matt Campbell, will start from the rear of the Hypercar class grid on Saturday. Vanthoor is one of three Porsche Penske drivers attempting to win all three legs of the Triple Crown of Endurance Racing in the same year.

The Stewards’ decision reads: “After having examined the Technical Delegate report, the Stewards considered the minimum car weight did not comply with the relevant regulations.

“During the hearing, the Team Manager confirmed and accepted the procedure of the scrutineering and the measurements. Consequently, the Stewards decided to impose the disqualification of car 6 from the qualifying session. The car 6 will start at the back of the grid of his category according to the Article 10.2.2 of 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans supplementary regulations.

It also states: “As a result, the Stewards decided that the competitors classified behind car 6 at the end of the qualifying session will be moved up in the classification in accordance with article 12.19 of FIA Sporting Code.” 

This confirms that the No. 009 Aston Martin THOR Team Valkyrie, which had originally finished 16th in first Qualifying after being bumped outside the top 15 at the checkered flag, will move back into the top 15 and participate in Hyperpole 1.

With the addition of one Aston Martin, seven of the eight Hypercar manufacturers will have at least one car in the first Hyperpole session which begins at 9:05 PM CET.

NASCAR Cup Series teams and drivers are preparing for a number of different variables that come with racing in Mexico City this weekend, and that includes the altitude.

The circuit, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, sits 7,500 feet above sea level. It will be the highest-elevation race the Cup Series has ever experienced. And high altitude means thinner air.

Toyota wanted to make sure their drivers were prepared for any physical effects. At the Toyota Performance Center in Mooresville, N.C., the company, through Caitlin Quinn, director of performance at TPC, created an environment for drivers to train. It focused on being in a hypoxic environment, which means it has low oxygen levels. Stephanie Fernandes, the sports dietitian at TPC, also played a large role.

“It started with a question from one of our Cup (Series) drivers saying, ‘Hey, are we getting ready for Mexico?’” Quinn said recently. “I was like, ‘What do you mean?’”

Quinn started digging into research and the numbers as far as elevation. Once it was realized how high above sea level the track sits, she acknowledged “that can have a significant impact on performance. … It could have a pretty serious effect on some of the drivers.”

The ill effects that some might feel in high altitude can include headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea. All of the Toyota drivers were given the same information and chance to train. While all of them heard Quinn out, some went all in like Tyler Reddick on the Cup Series side, and others chose what would work best for them or how far they wanted to take the training.

The training started about nine weeks ago. Quinn didn’t go into specifics – understandably not wanting to give the proprietary information TPC has developed – about the training or nutrition program but she explained that some of it involved exercises to deal with heat tolerance and Fernandes provided supplements to help with the training effects.

Some of the issues that drivers might have to deal with behind the wheel include cooling, dehydration and even some inner ear or central nervous function. In other words, as Quinn said, all the things drivers need to do their jobs well. And so, Quinn wanted to find a way to expose the drivers to a lower oxygen environment or have them exercise in such an environment.

Reddick, for example, wanted to balance both training and sleeping in the hypoxic environment. His wife Alexa supported his taking the measures needed to prepare but being late in her pregnancy with their second child, the sleeping away from home didn’t thrill her.

“I definitely noticed a difference from the start until where I’m at now,” Reddick said. “It was fun. It was a new challenge, as well. I’ve always enjoyed training but doing this has been fun. The setting, atmosphere is all different and you’re testing yourself in new ways. Pretty early on I was starting to notice the benefits.

“I was really thankful for all the work that (everyone) was putting in, the sport’s dietician … helping out with all things we might need in our body to go with it. I really enjoyed it, honestly. It is different sleeping in a hypoxic environment but it’s really cool to see the changes so far and I’m excited to see what it’s going to be like when I get to Mexico City.”

The investment at the TPC will not go to waste on one race. Quinn explained there are plans to implement it in the future for drivers to use as a tool for other races, and not just one at high altitude. She also understands that while some drivers might feel negative effects in Mexico City, there will be others who will be fine without doing anything special to prepare for it.

“Maybe these guys are going to feel awesome and not just fine,” she said of the Toyota competitors. “It’s an advantage, potentially. Not necessarily that everyone will be at a detriment when they go. I understand that. We knew that from day one.

“It was (about), can we gain a competitive advantage from feeling really good there as opposed to just fine.”

Chase Elliott will again have his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet decorated by a child to bring attention to and help raise funds for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

This marks the ninth edition of the “Desi9n to Drive” program through the Chase Elliott Foundation. “Desi9n to Drive” has raised nearly half a million dollars for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Elliott will run the special scheme on his Hendrick Motorsports car at EchoPark Speedway, the track formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“At first (the program) kind of started off with shoes and really NAPA’s involvement kind of took it to the next level, honestly,” Elliott said. “It’s been rewarding, but I think more than anything it’s had an impactful difference on people’s lives.”

Elliott’s car and uniform for the June 28 race will feature a design created by 11-year-old Rhealynn Mills, chosen among submissions from patients at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s.

She was diagnosed with Metastatic Osteosarcoma in October 2022. She had her right leg amputated, one of 19 surgeries she has undergone.

Photo: Hendrick Motorsports

Her design illustrates her desire to be a nurse and features symbols of hope and healing, including gold childhood cancer ribbons, stethoscopes, heart monitors and the words “Cure Cancer” and “healing kids like me” on the No. 9 car.

“For her to kind of exemplify and show the fight that she’s gone through and that attitude that she’s had throughout the process, I think, is really important,” Elliott said of Mills’ design. “Excited to have her and meet here and spend some time with her family, too. I’ve said this before, it’s not just her, the whole family and what they go through and deal with through the process, it’s a lot of weight on a lot of different people.”

Elliott said that having such interactions are special to him.

“I say this a lot, if you can help make 1% of somebody’s day a little better in that situation, I think it’s worth the time,” he said. “I think that’s always a good reminder. We obviously have a lot going on, too, and everybody has their things in their own lives. I think there’s a lot of lessons in all of that.

“I think one of the biggest ones I’ve taken is you just don’t really know what someone is going through when you walk past them on the street. I think that’s just a really important thing to remember. If people can take that away from some of this, you might see these people or family members or her and have no idea, right?

“Just showing them some respect and hopefully making their days better and giving them an experience they might not have, whether they’re race fans or not, I think, is a good thing. We’re just trying to help.”

Race fans can enter the online sweepstakes fundraiser at desi9ntodrive.org to win part of Elliott’s race-worn Atlanta uniform, or a VIP race day meet and greet experience with Elliott. The donations will benefit the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s. The sweepstakes start June 12 and closes July 7.