Ty Gibbs’ Stellar Stats Dominate NASCAR Mexico City Recap

Ty Gibbs was in the spotlight at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez during the NASCAR Cup Series’ first points race outside the United States since 1958. For much of Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250, Gibbs looked like the only challenger to Shane van Gisbergen, who eventually took the win.

According to official NASCAR Insights statistics, Gibbs led the day on restarts and ranked second in both speed and defense, showing impressive form in his No. 54 Toyota. Only van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Chevrolet posted faster times throughout the race.

Before the final stage, Gibbs was in contention, but his race changed after a caution on Lap 65. Carson Hocevar spun in Turn 15, causing some leaders to pit on Lap 64.

Gibbs, along with Michael McDowell, Austin Cindric, and Chase Elliott, had not pitted yet and lost track position when forced to stop during the caution. This shakeup moved Gibbs toward the middle of the pack, making it harder to regain lost ground.

Despite having strong speed, Gibbs was not able to move up as quickly as some, ending the day in 11th place. His passer rating ranked seventh, while Elliott finished third and McDowell fifth after being better able to cut through traffic.

For Gibbs, the standout statistics in Mexico City contrasted with his season averages prior to the race. Across the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series so far, he ranks 19th on restarts, 21st in speed, and 29th for defense, showing that Sunday’s performance was well above his typical results.

After the finish, Gibbs summed up the mixed outcome by saying, “Sometimes life just doesn’t work out for you. You just have to keep digging.”

Michael McDowell’s run to fifth brought him closer to the playoff cut line. He left Mexico City sitting 18th in the standings, just two spots and 43 points short of the top 16 needed to qualify for the postseason.

The outcome of the race also had a big impact on the playoff chase. Van Gisbergen vaulted from 33rd in points to a playoff spot thanks to his victory, causing changes in the battle for the final playoff positions.

Only 10 regular season races remain, so every result now carries added weight for drivers trying to secure a playoff berth.

Several other drivers had noteworthy outings. Cole Custer picked up his first top-10 result of the year in eighth, excelling in restarts and defense compared to earlier rounds.

Daniel Suárez, racing in his home country, was second in Restart Rating but was unable to finish better than 19th. Ryan Blaney crossed the line 14th but held top-10 rankings in speed, defense, restarts, pit crew, and passing metrics.

Kyle Busch showed top-five speed early but crashed out on Lap 7, ending his day in 37th place.

With just a handful of races before the playoffs, the Mexico City event created a new outlook for several teams and drivers. The data confirmed Gibbs’ speed and promise, while van Gisbergen’s victory delivered a major shakeup to the standings.

As the Cup Series heads back to the United States, drivers and teams know that each remaining race will play a pivotal role in shaping the playoff field.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.