Introduction and Background on Shane Van Gisbergen
Shane Van Gisbergen, a 36-year-old racing driver from Auckland, New Zealand, clinched victory in the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race held at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The triumph not only marked his second NASCAR Cup Series win but also brought a wave of celebration across more than 11,000 kilometers to Oceania.
Van Gisbergen’s Journey to NASCAR Cup Series
Van Gisbergen began his racing career at the age of eight with karting in New Zealand. He quickly rose to prominence in the prestigious Supercars championship, which holds high regard in Oceania. He has also competed in prestigious endurance races like the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans. In 2023, he made his NASCAR Cup Series debut and is now in his first full season with the series in 2025.
NASCAR Mexico City Weekend 2025: Multiple Winners
The NASCAR Mexico City Weekend 2025 saw four race winners, each from different series: NASCAR Mexico Series (Max Gutiérrez and Abraham Calderón), Xfinity Series (Daniel Suárez), and Cup Series (Shane Van Gisbergen). Daniel Suárez, the lone Mexican competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series, won the Xfinity Series race and ignited enthusiasm among fans still unfamiliar with NASCAR.
Van Gisbergen’s Victory and Its Impact
After a challenging start to the year, Van Gisbergen’s victory came as a result of recent progress and hard work. He said, “It’s been a tough start to the year, but there have been many bright spots and a lot of progress. Today was hard to enjoy because I was praying for no more yellow flags, but the car was well-balanced.”
Van Gisbergen led for 60 laps and recorded the largest time gap from second place since 2009. His win in the Viva México 250 race marked NASCAR’s first Cup Series event in Mexico, receiving an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd.
Comparison with Daniel Suárez
Both Van Gisbergen and Daniel Suárez share a commonality as drivers for Trackhouse Racing, being the first from their respective countries (New Zealand and Mexico) to win at least one NASCAR Cup Series race.
Post-Race Reactions and Future Prospects
Despite his typically jovial demeanor, Van Gisbergen maintained composure during his celebration. He mentioned, “I tried not to have expectations coming here; I just wanted an open mind. It’s a new place, and I studied everything I could, but I didn’t know how we’d be received or what the city would be like. It’s a great place, though. I’m not a city guy, so I look forward to heading back to my farm in Mooresville and relaxing. But it’s a great place.”
Van Gisbergen acknowledged that he spoke with Max Verstappen, the current four-time Formula 1 world champion and friend, before the race. Verstappen raced in Canada on the same day.
NASCAR’s Future in Mexico
As of now, NASCAR has not confirmed another race in Mexico for the 2026 season. The next stop in 2025 will be in Pennsylvania on June 22.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City? Shane Van Gisbergen from New Zealand.
- What makes Van Gisbergen’s victory significant? It is his second NASCAR Cup Series win and brings triumph to Oceania, as well as showcasing progress in his NASCAR career.
- Who else won during the NASCAR Mexico City Weekend 2025? Max Gutiérrez and Abraham Calderón (NASCAR Mexico Series), Daniel Suárez (Xfinity Series), and Shane Van Gisbergen (Cup Series).
- What is the significance of Van Gisbergen’s win for Mexico? It connected fans with the excitement of NASCAR and highlighted the achievements of local driver Daniel Suárez, who won the Xfinity Series race.
- What are Van Gisbergen’s future plans in NASCAR? He aims to continue improving and qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
