NASCAR Stars Head South of the Border

NASCAR will hold its first points-paying international Cup Series race in modern history in June at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. This marks only the third international event in NASCAR's top series history and the first since 1958. Daniel Suarez led fellow NASCAR drivers through Mexico City to showcase his home country. Joining him were Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell. The drivers experienced local culture, including tacos and Lucha Libre wrestling.

NASCAR has a two-year contract with promoter OCESA, which also hosts Formula 1 events. Concerns over safety and security have been addressed by NASCAR officials and drivers. "There's nothing to worry about," said Blaney. Steve O'Donnell emphasized that attendees are likely to enjoy the race, saying, "We always tell people that 'Hey, once you go to a race, you're going to fall in love with it.'" The visit highlighted local excitement for the event. A news conference drew hundreds, showing high interest.

Tickets went on sale, starting at $50 for a three-day general admission. OCESA is evaluating local demand as it balances F1 contract negotiations and NASCAR's return. NASCAR hopes to dispel rumors about possible race cancellations due to security issues. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)