When NASCAR heads to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for a historic race in Mexico City this weekend, the 39-car Xfinity Series field will feature three Mexican drivers.

It was previously announced that Cup Series star Daniel Suarez will drive for JR Motorsports in the No. 9 Chevrolet, while Truck Series regular and 2024 ARCA champion Andres Perez De Lara will make his debut in the No. 91 DGM Racing Chevrolet

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But in a late addition to the entry list, Rubén Rovelo will take part in the event on Saturday, June 14. Rovelo will be driving the No. 35 Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet, making his first start in any of the three national levels of the sport. Despite this being his Xfinity debut, his name is one the local crowd will know well.

He will be sponsored by Agua Skarch, which is a bottled water brand available in Mexico. This will be the highest number of Mexican-born drivers in any NASCAR Xfinity Series race since 2008 when five Mexican drivers entered the last race in Mexico City.

Rovelo is a veteran of the NASCAR Mexico Series, winning the 2020 championship and earning 26 career wins. The 37-year-old has 175 starts in that series between 2008 and 2024, and along with his 2020 title, Rovelo spent six consecutive years in the top five in points.

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When you think of the history and the legends of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, you think of the Unser family. Three generations of Unsers have earned 26 overall wins at The Race to the Clouds, and now a fourth-generation Unser, Loni, is looking to make her mark on the Colorado mountain, too. As she gets ready to ascend the 14,110ft peak for a fourth time on June 22, Loni joins the RACER Debrief to talk about her journey to racing at Pikes Peak, her 2025 program with BBI, Mobil 1 and Porsche, and the challenge of taking on one of motorsports’ most memorable and unique events.

Watch Pikes Peak on the RACER Network and the RACER+ app live on June 22.

CONCORD N.C. – Want an interesting fact you might not know? Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at inaugural points-paying events in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Across the 41 tracks that the tour has raced at in the modern era, no other team has as many wins as Hendrick Motorsports does on brand new circuits during points-paying events. With the Cup Series landing in Mexico for the first time this weekend, each of the four Hendrick Motorsport drivers will be looking to add another win to that total.

Since 1972, the organization has collected six points-paying wins at inaugural racetracks across the Cup Series. Those tracks include Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Auto Cub Speedway, Kansas Speedway, the Daytona Road Course, Circuit of the Americas and Nashville Superspeedway.

Jeff Gordon is credited with the first three inaugural wins for Hendrick Motorsports, starting with the first Brickyard 400 in 1994 at Indianapolis The eventual five-time winner of the event took home his first after holding off a charging Brett Bodine in the closing stages of the race.

RELATED: From Winner to Champion, Part 4: Execution, evolution and some radio magic

Gordon also scored the organization’s second inaugural win in 1997 at Auto Club Speedway. The California native got a chance to impress his home crowd when he cruised to victory with a sizeable gap between him and second place. Coincidentally, he started third in both this race and the previously mentioned ’94 Brickyard 400.

Gordon’s last inaugural track win for Rick Hendrick would come in 2001 at Kansas Speedway. Multiple cautions restacked and shuffled the field during the final stages of the race in America’s heartland. Despite the chaos around him, Gordon kept his foot to the floor and found himself in victory lane at the end of the race.

Jeff Gordon captures the first Kansas Speedway trophy at the 2001 race in Kansas

Chase Elliott picked up the mantle 19 years later when he won the first ever race at the Daytona Road Course. With the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling Watkins Glen International’s date on the calendar, the Cup Series ventured into the inner circuit of Daytona International Speedway to fill the road course void. 

Just like Gordon at Kansas, Elliott was tasked with holding off the field on a restart with three laps remaining in the event. Once the green flag flew, he did not look back and stayed ahead of the pack to win his second of five wins that season.

RELATED: Hendrick Motorsports completes 400 miles at Michigan

Elliott mastered the twists and turns of Circuit of The Americas that following year to get another inaugural race win for Hendrick Motorsports. Not only was it the first time the Cup Series ran at COTA, but it was also the first time the Cup Series ran at COTA… in the rain.

Heavy rain caused poor visibility, hard crashes, single-file restarts, and eventually a shortened race distance. Despite the challenges, Elliott kept his car afloat and won the first ever Cup race at COTA.

Hendrick Motorsports’ most recent inaugural Cup Series win came that same year, thanks to Kyle Larson at Nashville Superspeedway. While the lower divisions had visited the 1.3-mile oval occasionally since 2011, the Cup Series had never competed on the low-banked concrete track before. 

Even with plenty of unknowns, Larson showed off his driving prowess by dominating the race and cruised to a comfortable win in Music City.

This weekend’s race in Mexico City provides another shot at winning an inaugural event. You can watch all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers aim to achieve this goal on Sunday, June 15 at 3 p.m. on Prime Video.

One of the most anticipated events in NASCAR Cup Series history is now just days away. Mexico City began welcoming the haulers Tuesday as the escorted convoy from Laredo, Texas, where teams staged after leaving Michigan International Speedway Sunday night, has officially crossed the border.

Sunday will be the first Cup Series race held in Mexico. It will also be the first international points-paying Cup Series race since 1958.

“I hope it’s all worth it because it’s definitely a lot of work,” three-time and reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano said. “I was at the NASCAR building (recently) and they were having meetings with the truck drivers about how they’re going to get everything there. They don’t do that for any other race. This is a very specific thing. I think it could be great. I think NASCAR is doing a good job so far, from what I can tell, of covering their bases; making sure there are no surprises when we get down there. 

“We have to have our faith in them that they’re doing their job and it all ends up going well. I’m sure it will. I think everyone has been down there enough and talked about things enough that it will go well.”

Before the haulers were packed, teams were given instructions for what could and couldn’t be on the haulers (such as liquids), had to create manifests, and take other steps to ensure a smooth trip. Richard Childress Racing was among the teams that also had to remove alcohol or tobacco sponsors from the haulers and any apparel because local laws prohibit those items from being advertised in Mexico.

“I hope the fans enjoy it,” Logano said. “I hope it’s a good turnout. I think there is no doubt that a lot of times when you step outside your comfort zone, it’s uncomfortable. There is risk involved. But there is also high reward for our sport by doing this – stepping out of what we typically do in America and going international. It’s kind of a scary thing to do, let’s be honest. I think everyone … probably has some concerns of how are we going to get there? Where are we going to go? What do we do? 

“I don’t know how to speak Spanish. I’m going to be hanging out with [Daniel] Suarez as much as I can. I don’t know where to go. So, the unknown factor is at an all-time high when we go there.”

Logano won’t be alone if he does indeed stick by Suarez, who is making a grand return home to his native country. Suarez has been the face of the event, and NASCAR has used him to do promotional events in Mexico City as well as viral videos where he teaches his fellow drivers Spanish and about Mexican food.

“I really, honestly, don’t know what to expect other than Daniel has said a lot of great things about it,” said Ryan Preece. “I know going into Chicago I had an open mind because I had never traveled to Chicago, even though it’s in the United States. But I had a great experience there and it would be somewhere I would take my family or if we wanted to go sightseeing. So, going to Mexico, I have the same open mind. I hope it’s a great experience and something that is really good for not only myself but for NASCAR as a whole. From what I’ve heard, there are a lot of race fans there and they are very welcoming to us, so we’re excited about it.”

Alex Bowman hopes his Mexico trip results in a trophy. It is much-needed for his Hendrick Motorsports team, who has finished 29th or worse in the last three races. But Bowman also paid attention to what Suarez has said.

“I talked to Suarez and he swears it’s going to be more of a party than any other racetrack that I’ve been to, so I’m excited to see that,” Bowman said. “Hopefully, we all have a good time.”

Large, vocal and passionate crowds are a hallmark of the Mexican GP. NASCAR is hoping for a similar welcome. Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Bowman is also one of the drivers who admitted Mexico will be his first trip outside of the United States. Which means Bowman, Preece, and Josh Berry are among those who had to go through the process of getting a passport. Plenty of others had to renew their passports ahead of this season’s international race.

“It’ll be an experience in itself just to travel and get there,” Berry said. “The one thing I’m excited for, looking at Formula 1 races, is the number of fans there. I think it’s going to be a huge event with a ton of fans. The racetrack, the layout, looks pretty cool and I think that’ll be fun. But just taking in the whole experience is the biggest thing I’m looking forward to.”

Said Bubba Wallace of his hopes for the weekend: “I think just taking it all in. I have no expectations. It’s just going to be me; the family is not going. I have a couple of appearances there early in the week, so to get down there and see and officially say I’ve been to Mexico. And (eating) good food.”

Oh, the food is on the list of many traveling to Mexico City. Kyle Larson spent time there doing promotion events the week before the race at Nashville Superspeedway, and could see how excited the community, including the local media, is about NASCAR bringing both of its national series to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit.

“The venue looks amazing,” Larson said. “I love Mexican food, so I’m super pumped to go eat some authentic Mexican food. It’s going to be a great time and a great event. It’ll be cool to go race in a different country and in front of race fans who have maybe never seen us race in person.”

NASCAR does have local series that compete in other countries, including Mexico, but there is a push to bring its biggest stars international. Brazil was rumored to be the 2026 host of the Clash, but that now seems to be a way off, if it does happen at all. NASCAR perhaps sees how the NFL and MLB have taken their games international, and is trying to expand its footprint beyond the events in Mexico City that the Xfinity Series once ran (2005-2008), in Montreal (2007-2012) and the Craftsman Truck Series in Ontario (2013-2019).

There is a multiyear deal between NASCAR and Mexico City. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit is well known for the Formula 1 events it has hosted, however NASCAR will not run the same exact course but a 2.49-mile layout that has 14 turns.

Additionally, it will be the highest elevation race ever held for the Cup Series, with the altitude at 7,350 feet. Cup Series teams will be dealing with reduced horsepower because of the thin air, and some drivers have done attitude training to prepare for how different the conditions will be behind the wheel.

Brad Keselowski has raced internationally with NASCAR before (in Canada in the Xfinity Series). Once this weekend is complete, he knows he’ll be able to speak more about the Cup Series taking on Mexico City, but his expectations and thoughts are very much in line with many others. 

“It’s an interesting event and there are all kinds of sentiments, positive and negative,” he said. “I think it’s good for the Cup Series in general to see the schedule variability that has been driven over the last half a dozen years or so. An international race fits the bill with everything else we’ve been doing. 

“I’m really curious about the reception from the fans. I think the reception from our partners has been strong, which is always fun and great for the teams. But I’m really curious about the reception from the fans here and in Mexico. Will they turn out the way we think they are going to turn out? What will the fans here think?”

NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series events in Mexico City begin Friday, with each series getting two practice sessions. The NASCAR Mexico Series will be the companion event to the weekend, running a race on Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon. The inaugural Cup Series event Sunday afternoon caps off the weekend.

In a move aimed at boosting the powersports industry, the National Powersports Dealer Association (NPDA) and the Powersports Rep Association (PRA) have announced a strategic partnership focused on supporting the nation’s powersports retailers.

The collaboration is built on the belief that a “rising tide floats all boats,” with both associations committing to work together for mutual success. Central to their plan is fostering stronger, more professional relationships between dealers, representatives, and vendors.

“By advocating for a healthy and personal partnership between the dealer, rep, and vendor, we will only strengthen our business relationship, resulting in a more professional, profitable powersports industry as a whole,” comments NPDA Chairman Bob Kee. “We are better together.”

Tim Calhoun, an industry veteran and spokesperson for PRA, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. “PRA couldn’t be more thrilled and excited to provide a collaborative approach with the NPDA for the greater good of the powersports industry,” he says. “An open communication pathway directly from rep and brand to the dealer network is something this industry has been missing for some time. We vow to make the effort in this collaboration to provide premier certified sales professionals in the powersports industry that will align with the dealerships’ values.”

The partnership will focus on enhancing relationships, ensuring strategic product placement, and creating a feedback loop from NPDA to PRA to improve the services provided by sales representatives.

Calhoun concludes, “It’s time we come together in difficult times to ensure support, resources, and productive communication. All of this will hopefully provide some stability and optimism moving forward between dealer, vendor/product, and representatives.”

This alliance marks a significant step toward uniting key players in the powersports industry, intending to drive growth and success for all stakeholders.

It’s only a matter of time before Carson Hocevar takes the next step.

With a feather-ruffling racing style, the 22-year-old Spire Motorsports driver has taken the NASCAR Cup Series by storm, and while his 29th-place finish at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday might not look glamorous, the upside is astronomical.

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“Absolutely, just a superstar when it comes to actual raw talent,” Michigan race winner Denny Hamlin said when discussing Hocevar. “When he figures out how to harness that, pick and choose the moments where he is aggressive, he’s going to put it all together and just be the next whoever. There’s five to six elite drivers in this field. He can be one of those five or six very easily when he puts it all together.

“He’s got all the tools to do it. He’s got all the pieces of the puzzle right in front of him. He has all the pieces. He’s not missing anything. It’s just when he figures out the riddle of how to put it together, he’s going to be a future star.”

RELATED: Michigan results | NASCAR Insights analysis explained

The metrics illustrated just what Hocevar is capable of, especially during Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan, his home track. According to NASCAR Insights, the 2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year victor tallied the top-ranked Passer Rating and Pit Crew Rating. With a fast No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (more on the speed momentarily), Hocevar’s aggression played well on the passing front, wheeling his way to top-10 finishes in Stages 1 and 2 (10th in Stage 1, third in Stage 2). When fuel strategy was factored into the equation, a top-notch pit crew made the No. 77 stand out that much more.

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The statistical success didn’t end there. With a third-ranked Defense Rating and seventh-best Restart Rating, Hocevar not only defended his top-10 track position but reclaimed it following competition yellows, especially during the race’s latter portion when fuel conservation became crucial.

A third-ranked Speed Rating, however, might be most impressive, with Hocevar capitalizing on clean air and leading 32 laps during the race’s final stage. While a left-rear tire issue caused Hocevar to falter with 19 laps to go, the overall performance cannot be overstated.

Two top fives, three top 10s, one pole and 70 laps led already in 2025, the sophomore driver has put the Cup Series on notice, and while the results haven’t yielded a race win yet, it’s just a matter of when for the rising star.

MORE: Carson Hocevar driver page

“You can’t run as fast as he’s running, being up front as much as he’s up front, without eventually winning,” Hamlin said. “I know that panic sometimes can set in. It’s like, God, we lost this opportunity. But he’s with a team that is on the rise. He is on the rise. It’s just a matter of time. None of us would be shocked if it’s next week or a month from now or whenever it is.”

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Other notables from Sunday:

— A sixth-ranked Defense Rating, coupled with the 10th-best Restart Rating, helped net Zane Smith his second top 10 of 2025.

— Despite starting from the rear, Tyler Reddick’s second-ranked Restart Rating helped salvage a 13th-place finish.

— William Byron, who ran out of fuel coming to the white flag, ranked first or second in four of the five categories.