NASCAR Mexico Series

Origins (Desafío Corona)

Main article: Desafío Corona

The Desafío Corona was established in 2004 by NASCAR Mexico, a joint-venture between NASCAR and Mexican entertainment group OCESA, with the idea of developing stock car racing in Mexico, and fueling a transition from the country's historically open-wheel car racing fan base to stock car racing.

From 2004 to 2006, the Desafío Corona grew considerably in infrastructure, as well as in number of fans, drivers and sponsors.

Present

The NASCAR Mexico Corona Series was officially presented at the 2006 Desafío Corona award ceremony. Toyota assumed naming rights in 2012, dubbing it the NASCAR Toyota Series.

The series is one of NASCAR's four international series alongside the NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Brasil Series, and the NASCAR Euro Series.

The winner of the series championship received an invitation to the UNOH Battle at the Beach (formerly the Toyota All-Star Showdown). All other drivers could also attempt to qualify by entering the heat races.

2016 hiatus

After the end of the 2015 season, the series was suspended supposedly due to the fact that organizers of the series wanted to instead support the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix, which had just been revived for 2015. Several of the teams and drivers that participated in the series moved to the Super Copa Telcel "V8" series.

2017 return

In October 2016, it was announced that the series would return with new sponsorship from PEAK Antifreeze, with an exhibition race that December to be followed by a full 2017 season.

Two new supporting series were also created for 2017: the NASCAR FedEx Challenge Series and NASCAR Mikel's Truck Series.

The series lost its sponsorship with PEAK Antifreeze in 2022, with the series name reverting back to the NASCAR Mexico Series.

The following year saw the implementation of a playoff system for the first time to decide the end-of-season champion.

Mexico Series tracks

The NASCAR Mexico Series has held events on 17 tracks in 15 locations (two in Santiago de Querétaro and two in San Luis Potosí) since its inception in 2004 (22 seasons). The series has raced on a mix of ovals and road courses that are mainly located in Mexico, though some events have also taken place in the United States and Panama.

Several tracks have been raced on in both a road course and oval configuration, including Autódromo Monterrey, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Autódromo Miguel E. Abed, and Autódromo de Quéretaro.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, USA, has historically had the shortest lap distance of any track, being just 0.402 km long. Currently, the Super Óvalo Potosino is the shortest track with a distance of 0.804 km. The longest track is set to be Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez's National road course layout, which will be used for the Mexico Series' joint weekend with the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series in June 2025, with a distance of 3.89 km. Previously, the longest track was Autódromo Monterrey's road course layout, with a distance of 3.2 km.

San Luis Potosí is the location with the most races in series' history, with 42 races having been held as of April 2025 (40 at Super Óvalo Potosino and 2 at Autódromo San Luis 400).

NASCAR Mexico has powered the construction of oval tracks in México, with examples including a remodeling of Autódromo Potosino in 2005, Aguascalientes, Chiapas, and Querétaro. In 2012, another speedway was completed in Juan Aldama, Chihuahua, which is currently known as El Dorado Speedway. El Dorado Speedway has uniquely hosted one of the only night races on the calendar for several years.

In 2013, the series held its first international event; a 75-lap, 75-mile (122 km) long race held at Phoenix Raceway in the southwestern United States. The race was held as part of the NASCAR Cup Series' Subway Fresh Fit 500 weekend, and was known as the Toyota 120. The race lasted until the 2015 season.

In 2024, the series held an exhibition race as part of the NASCAR Cup Series' Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum weekend, that was conducted at a temporary 0.402 km circuit around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Mexico Series race was a support race for the Clash, and the race was won by Daniel Suárez.

In 2025, the series planned to stage its first race in Central America, which would be held at the Autódromo Panamá located near Sajalices, roughly 50 km southwest of Panama City. The event would be known as the Nations Panama City 200. However, that round was cancelled in August and replaced with the another round.

Former tracks

Cars

In the first season, only General Motors (through its Pontiac division) and Dodge participated in the series. Ford made its debut in 2005 with its Mustang model, but since 2006, the Fusion is the Ford model entry. In 2009, Toyota started its participation with its Camry. The Mazda 6 was first entered in 2010. As with the other NASCAR divisions in the United States, Dodge subsequently pulled its factory support and no longer participates in the Mexican series.

Along with NASCAR's other international series and the ARCA Menards Series, the Mexico Series has General Tire as an exclusive tire supplier.

Most wins

Specifications

• Chassis: Steel tube frame with safety roll cage, must be NASCAR standards.
• Engine Displacement: 5.7 L (350 in³) V8.
• Transmission: 4 Speed Manual.
• Weight: 2680 lb Minimum (without driver).
• Power Output: 400 hp.
• Torque: 394 ftlbf.
• Fuel: 98 octane unleaded gasoline provided by Pemex.
• Fuel capacity: 15 usgal.
• Fuel delivery: Carburetion.
• Compression ratio: 9.3:1.
• Aspiration: Naturally aspirated.
• Wheelbase: 107 in.
• Tires: Slick tires provided by General Tire.
• Length: 205.25 in.
• Width: 74 in.
• Height: 52 in.
• Safety equipment: HANS device, Seat belt.

Champions

As of 2025, eleven different drivers have won the NASCAR Mexico championship. Rubén García Jr. was the youngest champion (20 years old), and Rafael Martínez was the oldest champion (45 years old). Rubén García Jr. has the most championships to his name with 5.

Rookie of the Year

Series winners

List of winners

Info accurate as of the end of 2025 Nascar Mexico Season

University of Northwestern Ohio Battle at the Beach

Mexico Series champions were invited to the University of Northwestern Ohio Battle at the Beach (formerly known as the Toyota All-Star Showdown). In 2011, Daniel Suárez, Germán Quiroga and Rubén Rovelo took part. They finished in 11th, 12th and 30th, respectively.

Female drivers

To date, four women have started a NASCAR Mexico Series race, three started a Trucks Mexico Series race and one started a NASCAR Challenge race.

Some notable accomplishments by female drivers have included Mara Reyes scoring a pole position in her first race, and Regina Sirvent becoming the first woman to win a NASCAR Trucks Mexico Series race.

*Has only raced in the NASCAR Challenge Series (run in the same races at the same time with NASCAR Mexico Series)

**Has only raced in the NASCAR Trucks Mexico Series

Other NASCAR series

While some NASCAR Mexico Series drivers have taken part in Xfinity Series and Truck Series races, only Jorge Goeters and Daniel Suárez have raced in both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Mexico Series. Additionally, Scott Riggs, Cody Ware, and Kevin O'Connell have all only made one start in the Mexico Series but have also taken part in Cup Series races.

Rubén Pardo, Rogelio López and Rubén García Jr. have all achieved victories in the regional K&N Pro Series East; while Daniel Suárez has won in the K&N Pro Series East, and all three of NASCAR's domestic national series (the Xfinity Series, Truck Series and Cup Series).

In 2016, Suárez won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, before moving up to the NASCAR Cup Series the following year, driving the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2019, he moved to the No. 41 driving for Stewart–Haas Racing before moving to the No. 96 driving for Gaunt Brothers Racing, then moved to the No. 99 for Trackhouse Racing Team. On June 12, 2022, Suárez won his first career NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.

NASCAR Cup Series drivers

Five drivers have raced both the NASCAR Mexico and NASCAR Cup Series.

References

References

1. (March 5, 2004). "OCESA y SELCA presentan su nuevo serial como "Desafío Corona 2004"". Sporcar.com.
2. (December 8, 2006). "El Desafío Corona será en 2007 Nascar-México". La Jornada.
3. (February 16, 2012). "La Temporada 2012 Será NASCAR Toyota Series". NASCAR México.
4. (18 October 2016). "NASCAR returns to Mexico for 2017 with new sponsor PEAK". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
5. (27 August 2024). "Cup Series to make history with Mexico City event in 2025". NASCAR.com.
6. (March 11, 2009). "El óvalo de Aguascalientes: 1.4 km.". ESTO.
7. (October 13, 2008). "Inauguran con gran éxito Autódromo Chiapas; más de 20 mil aficionados en la 13a. fecha de la NASCAR". Instituto de Comunicación Social de Chiapas.
8. (March 8, 2008). "Impresiona el Autódromo". ESTO.
9. (December 19, 2011). "El Dorado Speedway, nuevo óvalo NASCAR en México". NASCAR Europe.
10. (8 April 2025). "NASCAR MÉXICO SERIES DEBUTA EN PANAMÁ CON UNA CARRERA HISTÓRICA". NASCAR Mexico.
11. (6 August 2025). "INFORMACION IMPORTANTE NASCAR MÉXICO CARRERA DE PANAMÁ". NASCAR Mexico.
12. (June 23, 2004). "Mopar – Seman Baker seguirá teniendo los únicos autos Dodge en el Desafío". Sportcar.
13. (January 25, 2005). "Ford entra al Desafío Corona con el Mustang 2005". Sportcar.
14. (February 2, 2006). "El Ford Fusion corre en los Stock Cars". Sportcar.
15. (April 9, 2010). "Mazda de México participará en la NASCAR Corona Series". Portal Automotriz.
16. (February 5, 2019). "General Tire to Serve as Exclusive Tire Supplier For NASCAR's K&N Pro Series, Pinty's Series and PEAK Mexico Series". [[NASCAR Home Tracks]].
17. (November 16, 2008). "Conquista Rafael Martínez título en Nascar". Milenio.
18. (January 30, 2011). "Suarez almost at the top ten; Rovelo in an accident at the Toyota All-Star". Escuderia Telmex.