NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Mexico & Berlin)

Winners: Shane van Gisbergen (Cup); Daniel Suarez (Xfinity); plus Treyten Lapcevich (ARCA)

Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and Berlin Raceway

Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 

NASCAR Cup

Shane van Gisbergen Triumphs in Inaugural Cup Series Race in Mexico City

 

An overcast sky and early afternoon drizzle could not dampen the enthusiasm or energy of the huge crowd at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Sunday for the first points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race outside the United States in half a century.

 

And they were not disappointed.

 

As he did at another NASCAR “inaugural race” — on the streets of Chicago two years ago in his national series debut — New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen, 36, prevailed again. This time, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, he claimed a huge 16.567-second victory over Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell in the Viva Mexico 250 – the largest margin of victory in the Cup Series since Texas in November 2009.

 

The three-time Australian Supercars champion van Gisbergen — in his first full-time season at the NASCAR Cup Series level — won pole position and led 60 of the race’s 100 laps, including the final 32, easily pulling away from the field to claim his first ever provisional berth in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with the win. He extended his margin of victory by nearly a second in each of the final five laps.

 

“What a week. I’ve really enjoyed myself here, but felt like rubbish this morning,” said van Gisbergen, whose victory was only his second top-10 finish of the season.

 

“Our car was amazing,” he added. “The 54 [Ty Gibbs] was close, but that last stint, what a pleasure, just ripping lap after lap and watching them get smaller in the mirror.”

 

Call that the Kiwi Kick. 🏉 pic.twitter.com/EIhmK6k3K3

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 16, 2025

Pole: Shane van Gisbergen

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, June 22, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET for the The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM at Pocono Raceway.

NASCAR Xfinity

Daniel Suárez Scores Massive Xfinity Series Win at Home in Mexico City

 

In all his high hopes and hard work over the last year to promote NASCAR’s return to his home country of Mexico, even Daniel Suárez could not have imagined the amazing story of his dramatic win in Saturday’s The Chilango 150 — coming from last place on the grid in a backup car and charging to Victory Lane.

 

After victory spinouts, the 33-year-old native from Monterrey, Mexico climbed out of his No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, stood on the car’s roof, pounded his chest and pointed upward to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez grandstands — shouting to the thrilled crowd in his native Spanish and thanking his loyal fans for their support.

 

“It’s everything I was looking for, just a special day,” said an emotional Suárez, the 2016 Xfinity Series champion, who led a race-best 19 of the race’s 65 laps and beat Taylor Gray to the checkered flag by .598 seconds in a backup car the team rebuilt after he crashed in the morning qualifying session.

 

“It’s a very special day, very, very special to be here in front of my people, all these people that have supported me for many, many years and known me since my NASCAR Mexico days, now I’m fighting with the big boys,” said Suárez who was forced to use the “international provisional” starting position after his incident in qualifying.

 

Así se vive la emoción por @Daniel_SuarezG en el NASCAR Mexico City Weekend. 🇲🇽 🙌🏻
¡Recuerda que hoy veremos competir al piloto en la primera carrera de NASCAR Cup Series en México! 🔥 Últimos boletos: https://t.co/SYDqvcUDNG 📲#NASCARMexico #NASCARMexicoCity pic.twitter.com/AsMQE1Pyej

— NASCAR México (@NASCARMexico_) June 15, 2025

Pole: Connor Zilisch

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET for the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway.

NASCAR Trucks

The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Did Not Race This Weekend.

We're back in America's motorsport, the HEMI® V8 is back, and we ain't here to mess around. LFG. pic.twitter.com/H6EqU5d1VN

— Ram Trucks (@RamTrucks) June 8, 2025

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 Series

Treyten Lapcevich Secures Dominant First ARCA Menards Series Victory at Berlin

 

When the 2025 season began for Treyten Lapcevich, he knew it was important to capitalize on every available opportunity.

 

A third-place showing for the Canadian driver at Phoenix Raceway earlier this year reinforced his belief that he could excel in the United States. The ride with Venturini Motorsports that evening was only for one race, which left Lapcevich waiting for the next moment to showcase his talent in the ARCA Menards Series. 

 

Nitro Motorsports provided Lapcevich with a chance in Saturday’s Berlin ARCA 200 at Berlin Raceway, one he didn’t let go to waste. Leading every lap from the pole, Lapcevich faced minimal opposition from the field and easily cruised to Victory Lane in his second ARCA Menards Series appearance.

 

“I don’t even know what to say,” Lapcevich said. “A big thanks to Nitro Motorsports. [My crew chief] Shannon [Rusch] and the guys had this thing hooked up. I haven’t been in the seat a whole lot this year and these guys came together and made this possible for me. A huge thanks to Nitro for truly giving me a rocket ship.”

 

✅ First win for @TreytenL!
✅ First win for @racewithnitro! pic.twitter.com/jM7t5sY6p5

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) June 15, 2025

Pole: Treyten Lapcevich

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 8:14 p.m. CT for the Shore Lunch 250 Presented By Dutch Boy at Elko Speedway.

 

source: NASCAR Media

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