Lucas Oil Partners with RCR and Kyle Busch for NASCAR’s Historic Return to International Racing in Mexico City

Decade-Long Technical Partnership with RCR and ECR Engines Key to Tackling Demanding High-Altitude Track Conditions at NASCAR’s First International Points Race in Nearly 70 Years

 

Lucas Oil, the leader in high-performance lubricants and a long-time partner of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), will brandish its iconic blue livery as the primary sponsor for RCR’s No. 8 Chevrolet, driven by two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, for the upcoming Viva México 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on Sunday, June 15.

 

This highly anticipated race marks the first points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race held outside the United States since 1958, showcasing NASCAR's commitment to expanding its international presence. At 7,350 feet above sea level, the 2.674-mile circuit places extraordinary strain on engines, cooling systems and lubricants, robbing naturally aspirated Cup engines of up to a quarter of their horsepower, while pushing fluid temperatures higher than teams typically see at other tracks.

 

“We’re always excited to push the envelope with Kyle and RCR, and Mexico City presents an ultimate test of endurance and performance, which is exactly the kind of challenge where Lucas Oil’s products shine,” said Brandon Bernstein, Director of Partnership Marketing for Lucas Oil. “This is one of the most extreme racing circuits in the world - the significant elevation expectantly reduces engine power and for the same reason managing braking and engine heat becomes even more critical. On top of all that, teams must adjust aerodynamics within NASCAR specs to account for the thinner air and reduced downforce. It’s in demanding conditions like these where our race-proven products can help teams succeed. We can’t wait to see the RCR team in action.”

 

Over the past decade, Lucas Oil and ECR have collaborated to develop proprietary, race-day engine oils engineered to maintain optimal viscosity and performance even under extreme conditions — such as reduced air density, thinner oxygen levels and higher engine temperatures expected in Mexico City.

 

“With the extreme altitude in Mexico City, the demands on our engines will be unlike anything we’ve seen this season. Having Lucas Oil’s expertise and products in our corner gives us great confidence heading into this historic race,” said Bob Fisher, senior vice president of ECR. “We are more than up for the challenge and thrilled to be back racing at the Autódromo in front of an international fanbase and showcasing high performance racing engines on a global stage.”

 

Fans can watch Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet compete at the Viva México 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Sunday, June 15, with the race broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.

 

¡Vamos a México!@bootbarn | @Lucas_Oil | @WhelenEng | @WhelenMTRS | @BennettFamilyCo | #Drive4Bennett pic.twitter.com/jenchwSymJ

— RCR (@RCRracing) June 10, 2025

 

source: RCR PR

About the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

NASCAR Cup Series will race for points next week on an international land for the first time in nearly 67 years.

Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez

 

Located in Mexico City, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a 4.304 km circuit bearing the name of two iconic racing drivers, Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez.  The circuit earned its title after the untimely death of Ricardo during a practice session for the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix. Sadly, nine years later, Pedro also lost his life while racing.

 

When the brothers — Pedro, twenty-one and Ricardo then just nineteen — paired up in the 1,000 Kilometers of Paris in 1961 to clinch one of their first major grand-touring victories, a trio of festive mariachi muchachos serenaded their steel-gray Ferrari at the finish, strumming guitars in their sombreros as they straddled the straw-bale trackside barrier.

 

Years later, Pedro Rodríguez became the first Mexican driver to win a Formula One race, realizing one of his lifelong dreams in the 1967 South African Grand Prix. The triumph was a singular feat for decades until countryman Sergio Pérez’s F1 breakthrough in 2020.

 

“I felt an immense satisfaction for Mexico,” Pedro Rodríguez, the elder of the two brothers, said post-race. “On the victory lap, tears started to flow from my eyes.”

 

What happened next amid the fanfare nearly prompted Rodríguez to choke on his victory champagne. After the young driver rose to the top step of the podium, the band assembled trackside realized it did not know the Mexican national anthem. Instead, the musicians improvised by playing a tune called Jarabe Tapatío, or as it’s known in English, the “Mexican Hat Dance.” According to legend, Rodríguez always traveled with a recording of Himno Nacional Mexicano from that point forward.

 

That pride lives on in the circuit that bears their names.

 

El Autódormo Hnos. Rodríguez cada vez más cerca del NASCAR Mexico City Weekend. 🔥 🇲🇽#nascar #nascarmexico #ah pic.twitter.com/vN3q5XxRrp

— Autodromo Hnos. Rodriguez (@autodromohr) June 9, 2025

Get out your google translation app - NASCAR Cup Series will race for points next week on an international land for the first time in nearly 67 years.

 

 

source: NASCAR Media

NASCAR / ARCA Michigan Race Weekend Recap

Winners: Denny Hamlin (Cup); Stewart Friesen (Trucks) plus Brenden Queen (ARCA)

Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 

NASCAR Cup

Denny Hamlin Manages Michigan Mileage, Seals Third Cup Series Win of Season

 

Denny Hamlin landed his third victory of the NASCAR Cup Series season, coming out ahead in a fuel-mileage contest Sunday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway.

Hamlin led just five of the 200 laps in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400, guiding the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to a 1.099-second margin of victory. His third win at the 2-mile Michigan track was the 57th of his Cup Series career.

 

Chris Buescher placed second in the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford. Ty Gibbs wound up third with Bubba Wallace fourth and Kyle Larson completing the top five.

 

“No, not really,” Hamlin said, insisting he wasn’t overly worried about running out of fuel in the closing laps. “I wanted to get the lead, and obviously he [Byron] was doing a really good job defending.

“Sorry, but I beat your favorite driver,” a grinning Hamlin – in his 701st career series start – addressed the rowdy Michigan crowd.

“This whole team just stepped up,” he said. “Great job. We’ve been so fast this entire year, just haven’t finished it for one reason or another, so it feels good to come to Michigan, where we’ve been so close the last couple of years. 

“Such a gratifying day to restart 11th or 12th and charge to the front,” added Hamlin, who has now won multiple races in the last seven consecutive seasons.

You nailed that note, @dennyhamlin. 🎤 pic.twitter.com/sDVUzFzTnj

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025

Pole: Chase Briscoe

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 3:00 pm ET for the Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

NASCAR Xfinity

Xfinity Series Did Not Race This Weekend.

NEXT WEEK!

The @NASCAR_Xfinity Series travels south of the border to Mexico City for the first time in 17 years 🇲🇽

Saturday, June 14 at 4 pm ET on The CW! pic.twitter.com/Ki4vHg1cD0

— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) June 4, 2025

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET for the The Chilango 150 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

NASCAR Trucks

Stewart Friesen Snaps 72-Race Winless Streak in Truck Series at Michigan

 

Stewart Friesen hoisted his first trophy of the season in Saturday afternoon’s triple overtime DQS Solutions & Staffing 250 at Michigan International Speedway — a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series vrace that didn’t want to end, ultimately featuring 14 extra laps.

 

The victory snapped a 72-race winless streak for the Canadian driver Friesen, who had not been among the race’s front-runners all day but was where he needed to be when it counted, collecting his first trophy since 2022 at Texas Motor Speedway. His No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota beat Grant Enfinger’s Chevrolet by 0.111 seconds.

 

With most drivers opting for the outside row for lane choice on the final restart, Friesen moved up and took the inside position on the front row alongside Enfinger. The two of them dueled it out over the next two overtime laps to settle the trophy. Neither had a win this season coming into the race.

 

“I don’t know what to say, thank you to Chris, Halmar and all these sponsors and all these race fans, I know there’s a lot of Canadians and a lot of Americans,” Friesen said as the crowd began a huge roar of approval for the 41-year-old Ontario native as he celebrated his fourth career win.

 

With @StewartFriesen's return to Victory Lane today, he has snapped a 72-race winless streak! pic.twitter.com/NMtzMrBsk5

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) June 7, 2025

Pole: Luke Fenhaus

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 5:00 pm ET for the MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway.

ARCA

Brenden Queen Fends Off Corey Heim for 3rd ARCA Menards Series Victory of 2025

 

Earning another ARCA Menards Series checkered flag on Friday evening required Brenden Queen to put on a defensive clinic.

 

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Corey Heim, a late addition to Friday’s race, was a constant presence in Queen’s rearview mirror during the closing stages of the Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway. The only things Queen could do were break the draft and dump as much dirty air on Heim’s front bumper as he could.

 

Queen withstood Heim’s spirited charge to claim his third ARCA Menards Series victory across seven career starts. The final laps featured plenty of stress and included contact with Gio Ruggiero on the final restart, but the always jovial Queen was elated to celebrate a win in his first trip to Michigan.

 

“I have so much respect for [Heim] and Gio [Ruggiero],” Queen said. ‘What happened with me and Gio going into [turn] three [on the last restart], I’m not sure if I turned in early. If it was my fault, I’m sorry. We were racing for the win there.”

 

“I knew I was going to have to hold off Heim Time there, but it’s Bean Nation time tonight!”

 

Very special to get our third win of the season at @MISpeedway.

Just shows how hard this @RacePRG team works back at the shop week after week. https://t.co/Ru0VmDUA8A

— Brenden Queen (@03Butterbean) June 7, 2025

Pole: Brenden Queen*

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 7 pm EST for the Berlin ARCA 200 at Berlin Raceway.

 

source: NASCAR Media