Denny Hamlin Relieved NASCAR Won’t Make “Challenging” Return to Mexico

What’s Happening?

On the latest episode of his podcast Actions Detremental, Denny Hamlin said that teams are “wiping our forehead” after hearing that NASCAR is not planning on returning to Mexico City in 2025.

During the Aug. 4 edition of Actions Detremental, Hamlin, a co-owner of 23XI Racing, opened up on his reaction to the news that NASCAR is not returning to Mexico City as an owner/driver.

The 44-year-old veteran said that the event was a tremendous undertaking for teams. In fact, teams even loaded their cars for the road course race on Jun. 8 at Michigan International Speedway with Haulers leaving for Mexico City shortly after the race to arrive at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in time.

As Hamlin puts it, “But, I can tell you from the team standpoint, we are wiping our forehead,” Hamlin said. “Mexico was very, very challenging, logistically, very, very tough on our race teams to prepare the cars. A week, 10 days in advance, just a tremendous task.”

Hamlin also opened up about the sickness that seemingly swept through the garage area while teams were in Mexico City. This was a major storyline of the race weekend as drivers like Noah Gragson and eventual Cup Series winner Shane van Gisbergen raced while under the weather.

“Man, there were a lot of sick people,” Hamlin said. “Lots. I mean, I know of five to six that were in really, really bad shape.”

Aside from physical ailments, the trip was already trying on teams upon their departure from Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Jun. 12, as two planes carrying Cup and Xfinity crews and drivers were grounded. One flight, in particular, was delayed entirely following an aborted takeoff due to a blown engine.

NASCAR and Mexico City

A race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was the highlight of the 2025 NASCAR schedule, though the race’s future is uncertain.

While NASCAR has yet to confirm that the sport will not return to Mexico City in 2025, a Jul. 30 report from Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic claims that the sport’s two highest levels will not make the trip due to logistical issues and scheduling conflicts.

In contrast to the scheduling and logistical concerns, Hamlin questioned the race’s attendance and said during this episode, “Decisions are always made by money in this instance, and more than likely, this is a money thing that is the reason we’re not going back.”

Hamlin was the only full-time Cup Series driver to miss the race, though his reason was not travel-related: His fiancée gave birth to their first son, Jameson. In his place, Joe Gibbs Racing reserve and sim driver Ryan Truex filled in the No. 11, bringing the car home 23rd.

Though NASCAR is looking to find a date for the track in 2027, Bianchi also reported that Chicagoland will likely replace Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on the 2026 calendar.

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