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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Garrett Mitchell, better known by his online persona Cleetus McFarland, says his 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule isn’t set in stone, something the YouTube star explained to Dale Earnhardt Jr on the latest episode of The Dale Jr Download.
One of the biggest surprises in recent NASCAR news is that YouTube star Cleetus McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, will make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut next month at Rockingham Speedway.
Mitchell, who has just won a NASCAR National Series start to his name, will make this start with Richard Childress Racing in their No. 33 car as part of a part-time development contract that will see him make starts in 2026 and 2027.
Per Mitchell, his contract will cover three races per season, though he hinted it could be more in a Facebook post. Nonetheless, fans are eagerly awaiting an official schedule of what other tracks Mitchell and RCR will tackle in 2026.
Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a little longer for this schedule, as the 30-year-old Floridian explained during a recent interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr, his 2026 schedule is still up in the air a month ahead of his first race.
During an interview on the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download, Mitchell told Earnhardt that while he plans to race the superspeedways after Rockingham, with his sights set on Talladega’s April 25 or October 24 race weekend, the decision lies in the hands of NASCAR.
“NASCAR said I cannot run Talladega unless I go to Rockingham first and do well,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell then clarified that while he will have a rookie test for Rockingham, the race at Rockingham will determine his eligibility to race at Talladega.
What’s Happening? YouTube star-turned-NASCAR driver Garrett Mitchell, best known by his online persona Cleetus McFarland, has signed a part-time deal to…
Mitchell, who has two ARCA starts at Daytona and one at Talladega, has already taken a rookie test this season at Rockingham for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Despite a minor crash during this test, Mitchell was cleared to race in the season-opening race at Daytona, crashing himself in a single truck spin five laps into the race, after a valiant qualifying effort.
Even with the barrier of Rockingham in the way, fans are already somewhat concerned about McFarland’s skills, given the result of his short time behind the wheel of a truck.
During this episode of The DJD, Mitchell expressed his intentions to work his way up the ladder and learn, but with the caveat that if an opportunity presents itself to him, he will take it, using the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series as a metaphorical example.
“I don’t want to drive a Cup car right now. But, brother, if someone calls me and says, ‘We got a spot in a Cup car in the Daytona 500?’ I mean, what am I supposed to do?” — Cleetus McFarland
Despite his doubters, with the support of RCR and their developmental tools, Mitchell seems confident about the opportunity, already getting in some sim time with RCR.
Either way, no matter how much support he has in his corner, Mitchell is diving in headfirst once again with this opportunity.
What’s Happening? Despite his internet fame, Garrett Mitchell, by his screen name Cleetus McFarland, has recently taken to stock car racing…
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Lionel has officially opened pre-orders for Garrett Mitchell’s (better known as Cleetus McFarland) first-ever NASCAR diecast.
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YouTube star-turned-NASCAR driver Garrett Mitchell, best known by his online persona Cleetus McFarland, has signed a part-time deal to race with Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the next two seasons.
UPDATE 3:00 PM EST: Per RCR Mitchell will make his debut at Rockingham Speedway on April 4.
What’s Happening? Despite his internet fame, Garrett Mitchell, by his screen name Cleetus McFarland, has recently taken to stock car racing…
What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
