Mexico part of 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season
Shane van Gisbergen will head to Mexico in his rookie NASCAR Cup Series campaign in 2025, which remains at 36 races.
The 2025 season will begin with the annual non championship exhibition, this time at historic short track Bowman Gray Stadium, after three years at LA Memorial Coliseum.
The 0.25mile track has NASCAR history having hosted the Cup Series from 1958-1971.
As per usual the NASCAR season itself starts with the iconic Daytona 500 on February 16, while the Playoffs start at Darlington and end at Phoenix.
Homestead Miami is no longer part of the championship-deciding run home having been moved to an early slot in March.
There are two significant changes to the calendar.
The first will be a historic trip south to Mexico where a first international points paying race will take place since 1958.
NASCAR will take on the famous Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, home of the Mexican Grand Prix on June 15 and the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2005-2008.
It is the first road/street course on the calendar followed by Chicago, Sonoma, Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval.
“It’s no secret we’ve been bullish about growing NASCAR beyond our borders, and the 2025 schedule is an important and thrilling first milestone in that journey,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president, chief venue and racing innovation officer.
“In addition to racing in Mexico, we’ve been able to bring back more historic and fan-favourite venues for the first time in decades across our national series.
“Not only will this combination of venues maintain the high levels of excitement and anticipation for NASCAR racing, but it also delivers one of the most diverse and challenging schedules anywhere in motorsports.”
The other big addition is the introduction of an in season tournament.
Drivers will compete head-to-head with the higher finisher advancing over five rounds and the winner taking home a $1 million prize.
“With the launch of our new media rights partnerships in 2025, we were excited to partner with Prime Video and TNT Sports to collaborate on fan engagement concepts that drive story lines in our sport and innovation from a production perspective,” said Brian Herbst, NASCAR SVP, media and productions, in a press release.
“Having head-to-head driver matchups for each one of TNT’s NASCAR Cup Series races will add a compelling fan engagement element across media platforms like TNT, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and NASCAR digital platforms.”
The in-season tournament runs from Atlanta to Indianapolis.
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series carries on at Darlington this weekend.
image: Phillip Abbott/LAT Photographic
2025 NASCAR Cup Series calendar (*in season tournament, #Playoffs)
| DATE | RACE / TRACK |
| Feb. 2 | Clash at Bowman Gray |
| Feb. 16 | Daytona 500 |
| Feb. 23 | Atlanta |
| March 2 | Circuit of The Americas |
| March 9 | Phoenix |
| March 16 | Las Vegas |
| March 23 | Homestead-Miami |
| March 30 | Martinsville |
| April 6 | Darlington |
| April 13 | Bristol |
| April 20 | Off |
| April 27 | Talladega |
| May 4 | Texas |
| May 11 | Kansas |
| May 18 | North Wilkesboro (All Star Race) |
| May 25 | Charlotte |
| June 1 | Nashville |
| June 8 | Michigan |
| June 15 | Mexico City |
| June 22 | Pocono |
| June 28 (Sat.) | Atlanta * |
| July 6 | Chicago * |
| July 13 | Sonoma * |
| July 20 | Dover * |
| July 27 | Indianapolis * |
| Aug. 3 | Iowa |
| Aug. 10 | Watkins Glen |
| Aug. 16 (Sat.) | Richmond |
| Aug. 23 (Sat.) | Daytona |
| Aug. 31 | Darlington # |
| Sept. 7 | World Wide Technology Raceway # |
| Sept. 13 (Sat.) | Bristol # |
| Sept. 21 | New Hampshire # |
| Sept. 28 | Kansas # |
| Oct. 5 | Charlotte Roval # |
| Oct. 12 | Las Vegas # |
| Oct. 19 | Talladega # |
| Oct. 26 | Martinsville # |
| Nov. 2 | Phoenix Championship # |
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