NASCAR Commissioner Shares Major Update on Brazil Race Plans

NASCAR made history this June with its first modern-era Cup Series points race outside the United States, hosted at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The organization is exploring international opportunities, sparking curiosity about future races in Brazil.

NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps recently visited Brazil during a NASCAR Brazil series event at Interlagos in São Paulo. This marked his first overseas engagement in his new role. During the Coca-Cola 600, both Phelps and Chad Seigler, NASCAR’s Chief International Officer, discussed the growing relationship between NASCAR and Brazil and shared insights into what could come next.

When asked about the possibility of a NASCAR Cup race in Brazil, Phelps admitted that there is still uncertainty about when it might happen. “I don’t know when we’ll get to Brazil,” he said. “Obviously, we need all parties to come together and understand how important this would be.”

Phelps expressed personal excitement about the chance, emphasizing that more preparations need to take place and various stakeholders would need to work together. Previous discussions about moving the season-opening ‘Clash’ race to Brazil have not moved forward, so that event will stay at Bowman Gray Stadium through at least 2026.

While a Cup race in Brazil is not confirmed, connections between the Brazilian racing community and NASCAR continue to grow. Recent efforts include partnerships between NASCAR’s technical team and engineering professors at Mckenzie University in São Paulo.

Brazilian participation in U.S. events is also on the rise. One clear example is Gabriel Casagrande, a three-time Stock Car Brazil champion, who recently traveled to Florida and won a Late Model race at New Smyrna Speedway in his first oval track outing.

NASCAR is eager to welcome more international drivers into its main series. Daniel Suárez, from Mexico, competes in the Cup Series, and Shane van Gisbergen from New Zealand joined NASCAR after racing in Australia.

Phelps said the goal is to see drivers from all over the world, including Brazil, competing full-time and challenging for victories and championships in the Cup Series.

Chad Seigler commented on NASCAR Brazil’s rapid growth. “We are exceeding expectations of where we thought we would be,” he explained, highlighting the passionate fan response at Interlagos.

Seigler pointed out that fans are embracing the unique aspects of NASCAR racing, and he believes the series is gaining a strong foothold in the country. He cited Casagrande’s recent U.S. achievement as proof of the talent emerging from Brazil and suggested that successful driver development between the countries would boost the sport’s popularity in both markets.

Brazilian drivers have already left a mark on NASCAR. Nelson Piquet Jr., an ex-Formula 1 competitor, holds wins in the Xfinity and Truck Series, making him the only Brazilian to do so at those levels.

Recently, four-time Indy 500 winner Hélio Castroneves made his NASCAR Cup debut at the 2025 Daytona 500, though his race ended in an early accident.

The momentum for NASCAR’s international growth is clear. While a Cup Series race in Brazil is not scheduled yet, partnerships, talent exchanges, and growing fan enthusiasm are paving the way for more opportunities.

NASCAR officials remain optimistic, hoping to see even greater Brazilian involvement and, eventually, to bring a major Cup Series race to São Paulo. This optimism echoes similar international ambitions seen in Formula 1, where the sport continues to expand and evolve, as highlighted by recent updates in F1 race dynamics and driver performances like those of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. For more information on these developments, see Hamilton responds to Ferrari claims and Verstappen F1 race ban.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.