First Look at NASCAR’s 14-Turn Layout For Mexico City
What’s Happening? According to the official NASCAR Mexico City website the Cup, Xfinity, and Mexico Series will race on a 14-turn…
With two NASCAR National Series headed to Mexico City for this season, one storyline that could develop during the race weekend is track limits. This is typically a debate had at Circuit of the Americas, but will drivers face similar scrutiny in Mexico?
NASCAR is not known for maintaining the strict track limit enforcement that the FIA has with Formula One. Historically, if a driver keeps it racey and doesn’t lob off a significant portion of the track, NASCAR lets the drivers have at it. For reference, in 2024, at NASCAR’s five road courses, only seven course-cutting penalties were handed down between two different tracks.
At one track in particular, Circuit of the Americas, NASCAR has a semi-controversial history of enforcing track limits. Officials were a bit loose in their rulings this year at COTA. Yet, in past events, such as the 2024 Xfinity Series race, 17 drivers were hit with these penalties.
This year, on the Cup Series side, that number went up to six drivers, compared to the four from 2024. The number of penalties also dropped by 11 at the Xfinity Series level, with just six penalties this season. Now, In 2025, NASCAR is adding another Formula One circuit to its schedule this June. The top two NASCAR National Series heads to Mexico City to race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
At Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the NASCAR Mexico, Xfinity, and Cup Series will race on a 14-turn 3.89 km (2.417-mile) layout. This layout is different from the well-known 2.674-mile Grand Prix Circuit, which features 17 turns.
For most NASCAR Cup Series drivers, this will be the first time they will actually race on Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. However, some will more than likely have the circuit down by memory from sim sessions. The last time a NASCAR National series raced at AHR was the Xfinity Series, which raced there from 2005 to 2008.
Of those races, only six drivers are active or plan to be active in 2025, including two race winners, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, who have raced in Mexico City. So, with a fresh track and no historic favorite to win the race, could track limits be a player in June?
As of press time, we don’t know how or if NASCAR will enforce track limits at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. During Race Week, a video explaining track limits is usually posted to help people understand what to look for. Take this one from COTA this year for reference.
If NASCAR were to hold the same level of scrutiny they do at COTA in Mexico City, there would be a few sections of the track to watch out for.
The first of these could be the first set of turns. Drivers will slow down from the high speeds of the track’s longest straightaway and, after a few twists, have to get right back into the gas on another straightaway. This leads to out second area of caution.
However, the most interesting section to watch during NASCAR’s weekend in Mexico City may be the famed stadium section. This section of the track features three tightly coiled turns. It will be a great place to attempt a pass, but once again, should a driver get overly enthusiastic, we could see someone butcher this entire section of the track.
Though the race is months away, there are several storylines already in play for Mexico City, and by the time the checkered flag drops Sunday night, track limits could very well be the storyline leaving Mexico.
What’s Happening? According to the official NASCAR Mexico City website the Cup, Xfinity, and Mexico Series will race on a 14-turn…
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