Tracking the Journey: NASCAR’s Show Heading to Mexico City

NASCAR has set a new milestone as the Cup Series heads to Mexico City for the first international points race since 1952. The journey began after the Michigan International Speedway event, when haulers left late Sunday night with all the cars and equipment needed for the Viva Mexico 250.

This required months of careful planning and teamwork from many across the NASCAR industry. The logistics for such a big move are much different than the usual weekly trips between tracks and race shops within the United States.

Tom Bryant, NASCAR’s vice president of racing operations, used skills from his 21 years in the U.S. Army to help with this new challenge. He and Steve Beres, managing director of racing operations and a former police chief, led efforts to plan for every problem that could arise far from home.

As Bryant explained, the team used the PACE system—Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency plans—for each step, making sure each backup was ready if problems came up. Bryant called the event an “operation” rather than just a race, focusing on security, moving equipment, and having everything resourced and ready.

Beres faced the task of managing 137 trucks and 284 drivers crossing the border, along with tracking nearly 2,400 documents. He coordinated with customs officials in both the U.S. and Mexico to ensure all permits and forms, including detailed manifests for every item, were prepared correctly.

From pit boxes to single rolls of tape, everything had to be documented according to strict rules, with only items returning allowed in the haulers. Some teams, like Hendrick Motorsports, brought international experience from previous races in Europe.

Having run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023, they were already familiar with the complex paperwork. Other veteran crew members, like Drew Blickensderfer from Front Row Motorsports, also recalled past trips to Mexico City during the Xfinity Series years, but noted that the planning was much more detailed for this Cup Series event.

The Xfinity Series teams joined in for the Chilango 150 on Saturday. Their haulers left early to meet in Laredo, Texas, before crossing into Mexico as a group.

At Michigan, teams had to carefully swap cars, backup vehicles, and spare equipment, squeezing in extra hours to make sure everything was ready. The Cup Series haulers set off on a 24-hour drive to Laredo before heading into Mexico City, making the effort a true team journey.

Support from long-time NASCAR partners also played a key role. Goodyear sent a mobile maintenance crew to help with tire issues before crossing the border.

Featherlite provided most of the trailers, while Stepp’s Towing Service was on standby in case of problems during the trip. In addition, logistics firm Rock-It Cargo helped plan the convoy, using its experience from moving equipment for major sporting events and concerts around the globe.

Special attention was paid to security and safety, with NASCAR leadership meeting with customs agencies to speed up the process at the border. With colorful haulers drawing attention on the road, teams stayed alert throughout the journey.

The hard work of hundreds of people is setting the stage for a historic day, as NASCAR’s top drivers get ready to compete for points outside the U.S. for the first time in generations. For the organizers and the fans, it’s an exciting new chapter that will be remembered long after the checkered flag falls in Mexico City. For more on motorsport logistics and international race efforts, see the coverage on F1 flexi wing at Spanish GP. Additionally, insights on managing race operations can be found in the article about Lewis Hamilton at Monaco.