{"id":52833,"date":"2025-06-15T23:49:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T04:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=52833"},"modified":"2025-06-16T10:07:06","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T15:07:06","slug":"shane-van-gisbergen-dominates-first-ever-race-at-historic-autodromo-hermanos-rodriguez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/15\/shane-van-gisbergen-dominates-first-ever-race-at-historic-autodromo-hermanos-rodriguez\/","title":{"rendered":"Shane Van Gisbergen dominates first-ever race at historic Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet (C) winner, Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Mobil 1 Toyota (L) second place, and Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 LLumar Chevrolet, third place celebrate in victory lane the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

MEXICO CITY \u2013 An overcast ski and early afternoon drizzle could not dampen the enthusiasm or energy of the huge crowd at Mexico City\u2019s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez Sunday for the first points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race outside the United States in half a century.<\/p>\n

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Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

And they were not disappointed.<\/p>\n

As he did at another NASCAR\u2019s \u201cinaugural race\u201d \u2013 on the streets of Chicago two years ago in his 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\u2019s Christopher Bell in the Viva Mexico 250 \u2013 the largest margin of victory of the season.<\/p>\n

The three-time Australian Supercars champion Van Gisbergen \u2013 in his first fulltime season at the NASCAR Cup Series level \u2013 won pole position and led 60 of the race\u2019s 100 laps, including the final 32, easily pulling away from the field to claim his first ever 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.<\/p>\n

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Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, poses with the winner sticker on his car in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWhat a week, I\u2019ve really enjoyed myself here, but felt like rubbish this morning,\u2019\u2019 said Van Gisbergen, who\u2019s victory was only his second top-10 finish of the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur car was amazing,\u2019\u2019 he added. \u201cThe 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.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

As thrilled as the crowd may have been to watch Van Gisbergen\u2019s masterwork, there was no doubt they were there to cheer on his Trackhouse teammate, Mexico-native Daniel Su\u00e1rez, who was celebrated as a hero after his win in Saturday\u2019s NASCAR Xfinity Series race.<\/p>\n

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Daniel Suarez, driver of the #99 Telcel Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The grandstands chanted \u201cDan-iel Dan-iel\u201d and held up signs of support. And Su\u00e1rez was emotional standing by his car on the starting grid as a local children\u2019s choir sang the Mexican National Anthem before the race. Ultimately, he ended up 19th \u2013 leading briefly early and finishing with a pass on the final lap.<\/p>\n

On the race’s cool-down lap, Su\u00e1rez pulled his car alongside Van Gisbergen’s parked car to offer congratulations on the big win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like today, I gave my best, but it just wasn\u2019t good enough,\u2019\u2019 Su\u00e1rez said. \u201cI wish I was in the mix a little more fighting up front, but it just wasn\u2019t in the cards today. I\u2019m happy with the performance, I don\u2019t feel like I left anything on the table, just wasn\u2019t meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, Michael McDowell, driver of the #71 B’laster Chevrolet, AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, and Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

As for the event in Mexico City \u2013 something Su\u00e1rez has worked so hard to promote, he was ecstatic calling the whole experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt couldn\u2019t have been any better,\u2019\u2019 a proud Su\u00e1rez said. \u201cI\u2019ve been here since Tuesday just working, doing promotion for sponsors, for the race itself, for fans. Every single thing that we did exceeded my expectations. The fans were amazing. Yesterday you could hear them for their passions. It is an experience I for sure won\u2019t forget for a very very long time.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

In the end, it was the New Zealand national anthem played on the stadium speaker as NASCAR did a unique post-race celebration having the top-three finishing drivers \u2013 Van Gisbergen, Bell and Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Chase Elliott \u2013 stand on  podiums and hoist trophies.<\/p>\n

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A detail view of the NASCAR Mexico City sombrero in victory lane after the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The victory was particularly rewarding for Van Gisbergen, considering the amount of adversity he faced this week in Mexico. He was sick to his stomach Sunday morning and his crew showed up a day later than the other teams after some travel challenges.<\/p>\n

In the end, however, Van Gisbergen had to tell his crew chief to stop telling him to \u201cslow down\u201d in those closing laps. \u201cI was just trying to stay in a rhythm,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

Van Gisbergen said he texted with his friend and fellow Red Bull-sponsored racer, reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen, a five-time Mexico City F1 race winner, who gave him a few tips on the braking zones and racing lines.<\/p>\n

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Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

And the Kiwi did all that, capping off the day with his unique victory celebration \u2013 punting a rugby ball into the cheering grandstand crowd that certainly got their money\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n

Not only did Van Gisbergen prevail in some tough circumstances, Bell\u2019s work was also impressive, considering he finished runner-up after starting 31st. Elliott rolled into the top-five with about 25 laps remaining and steadily moved forward. Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Alex Bowman finished fourth and Spire Motorsports\u2019 Michael McDowell was fifth.<\/p>\n

John Hunter Nemechek, Chase Briscoe, Cole Custer, championship points leader William Byron and Chris Buescher rounded out the top-five.<\/p>\n

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Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Totalplay Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Also notable on Sunday, there was a brief post-race confrontation on pit road stemming from an incident two weeks ago at Nashville between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carson Hocevar.<\/p>\n

The former Daytona 500 winner Stenhouse leaned into Hocevar\u2019s car and had words with the 22-year old, ultimately telling reporters that he promised to settle the score in the near future. It was unclear what happened Sunday to precipitate the confrontation. Stenhouse finished 27th and Hocevar was 34th.<\/p>\n

Championship front-runner Kyle Larson was collected in an eight-car accident only seven laps into the race and finished 36th \u2013 38 laps down. That cost him dearly in the regular season standings and now he trails his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron by 67 points with 10 races remaining to settle the Playoff field of 16.<\/p>\n

The series returns stateside for next Sunday\u2019s The Great American Getaway 400 (2 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Ryan Blaney is the defending race winner.<\/p>\n

Interviews: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Race winner Shane Van Gisbergen and crew chief Stephen Doran (No. 88 Trackhouse Chevrolet) – <\/p>\n

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Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota), Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) and Daniel Suarez (No. 99 Trackhouse Chevrolet) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ChaseSuarez01.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/BenKennedy01.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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Jeff Gordon, NASCAR Hall of Famer – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/NCSPreJeffGordon01.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NASCAR Cup Series Race – Viva Mexico 250<\/b><\/p>\n

Aut\u00f3dromo Hermanos Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Mexico City, Mexico<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Sunday, June 15, 2025<\/b><\/p>\n

                1. (1)  Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 100.<\/p>\n

                2. (31)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 100.<\/p>\n

                3. (12)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 100.<\/p>\n

                4. (29)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 100.<\/p>\n

                5. (5)  Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 100.<\/p>\n

                6. (32)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 100.<\/p>\n

                7. (19)  Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 100.<\/p>\n

                8. (26)  Cole Custer, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                9. (27)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 100.<\/p>\n

                10. (16)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                11. (4)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 100.<\/p>\n

                12. (25)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 100.<\/p>\n

                13. (8)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 100.<\/p>\n

                14. (18)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                15. (2)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                16. (3)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 100.<\/p>\n

                17. (14)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 100.<\/span><\/p>\n

                18. (20)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 100.<\/span><\/p>\n

                19. (10)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 100.<\/span><\/p>\n

20. (22)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 100.<\/p>\n

                21. (9)  Joey Logano, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                22. (7)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                23. (36)  Ryan Truex(i), Toyota, 100.<\/p>\n

                24. (17)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 100.<\/p>\n

                25. (30)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                26. (13)  Josh Berry, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                27. (33)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 100.<\/span><\/p>\n

                28. (21)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 100.<\/span><\/p>\n

29. (15)  Riley Herbst #, Toyota, 100.<\/p>\n

                30. (35)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                31. (34)  Cody Ware, Ford, 100.<\/p>\n

                32. (37)  Katherine Legge, Chevrolet, 99.<\/p>\n

                33. (28)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 99.<\/span><\/p>\n

                34. (23)  Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 99.<\/span><\/p>\n

35. (24)  Zane Smith, Ford, Drivetrain, 76.<\/p>\n

                36. (6)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 58.<\/p>\n

                37. (11)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, Accident, 6.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  74.82 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 14 Mins, 4 Secs. Margin of Victory:  16.567 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  6 for 16 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  14 among 8 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   S. Van Gisbergen # 1-2;C. Buescher 3;A. Cindric 4;T. Gibbs 5-9;S. Van Gisbergen # 10-18;R. Preece 19-22;M. McDowell 23-24;T. Gibbs 25-42;S. Van Gisbergen # 43-48;C. Bell 49-51;S. Van Gisbergen # 52-62;T. Gibbs 63-66;W. Byron 67;C. Bell 68;S. Van Gisbergen # 69-100.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Shane Van Gisbergen # 5 times for 60 laps; Ty Gibbs 3 times for 27 laps; Ryan Preece 1 time for 4 laps; Christopher Bell 2 times for 4 laps; Michael McDowell 1 time for 2 laps; William Byron 1 time for 1 lap; Chris Buescher 1 time for 1 lap; Austin Cindric 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 60,12,1,71,34,43,77,23,9,99<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 88,20,48,12,71,3,17,35,77,99<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service MEXICO CITY \u2013 An overcast ski and early afternoon drizzle could not dampen the enthusiasm or energy of the huge crowd at Mexico City\u2019s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez Sunday for the first points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race outside the United States in half a century. And they were not disappointed. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":52836,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[1105,16,941],"class_list":["post-52833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-autodromo-hermanos-rodriguez","tag-nascar","tag-shane-van-gisbergen"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2220317544-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-dK9","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52833"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52860,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52833\/revisions\/52860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}