- Shane van Gisbergen wins the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City, dominating the Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
- Van Gisbergen led 60 of the race’s 100 laps, including the final 32, finishing 16.567 seconds ahead of runner-up Christopher Bell.
- The victory secures van Gisbergen’s first provisional berth in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and was his second top-10 finish of the season.
New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen added another milestone to his impressive racing career on Sunday, triumphing in the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The Trackhouse Racing driver, piloting the No. 88 Chevrolet, claimed a commanding 16.567-second victory over Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell in the Viva Mexico 250.
The three-time Australian Supercars champion, now in his first full-time season at the NASCAR Cup Series level, won the pole position and led 60 of the race’s 100 laps, including the final 32. Van Gisbergen easily pulled away from the field to secure his first-ever provisional berth in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
“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. 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.”
The enthusiastic crowd was there to cheer on van Gisbergen’s Trackhouse teammate and Mexico native Daniel Suárez, who was celebrated as a hero after winning Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race. Despite the overwhelming support, Suárez ultimately finished 19th, leading briefly early and finishing with a pass on the final lap.
“I feel like today, I gave my best, but it just wasn’t good enough,” Suárez said. “I wish I was in the mix a little more fighting up front, but it just wasn’t in the cards today. I’m happy with the performance. I don’t feel like I left anything on the table, just wasn’t meant to be.”
As for the event in Mexico City, Suárez was ecstatic, calling the whole experience “amazing” and stating that it “couldn’t have been any better.”
Van Gisbergen’s victory was particularly rewarding considering the adversity he faced throughout the week, including feeling ill on Sunday morning and his crew arriving a day later than other teams due to travel challenges.
Christopher Bell’s runner-up finish was also impressive, as he started 31st and worked his way through the field. Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, and Spire Motorsports’ Michael McDowell rounded out the top five.
The series returns to the United States for next Sunday’s The Great American Getaway 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, with Ryan Blaney as the defending race winner.
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