With the reveal of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule last week, the long-rumored international date was confirmed. Mexico City was the choice for NASCAR to expand the Cup Series into an international market. But where else could NASCAR go now that it has been confirmed the top level of stock car racing will, in fact, go international? We’ll take a look at some potential spots that make sense.
Before Mexico City was announced, Montreal was long rumored to be THE spot that NASCAR would choose to take Cup international, so it only makes sense that this would make the list. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which is the host of Formula One’s Canadian Grand Prix, would be the most logical site for NASCAR to take the Cup Series. NASCAR has already raced here in the past, most recently with the Xfinity Series in 2012, where Justin Allgaier captured the win. With Montreal being an intercontinental option that would make logistics much easier for NASCAR and being in deep talks to go there in 2025 that didn’t quite come to fruition, look for Montreal to be a viable option for NASCAR in the near future.
Brazil is also an exciting and viable option for the Cup Series, specifically São Paulo’s Autódromo José Carlos Pace, known more famously as Interlagos. Another Formula One staple, Interlagos, is also a track used by the NASCAR Brazil Series, and Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez recently ran a race in the series at the track and won. A trip to the Southern Hemisphere and bringing the stars of the Cup Series to South America would be a great way to bring in a new audience, and one that is already rich in motorsport. Not to mention, São Paulo is the economic center of the Brazilian economy, and with a metro population nearing 23.5 million, there would be plenty of interest. The NFL is taking its product to São Paulo this year, so NASCAR should pay close attention to how that works out and take note.
Barcelona is not a likely option, but it seems very intriguing. The city has a world-class facility ready to host a race, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which puts on some of the best racing in F1 year in and year out. The Cup Series could definitely put on quite a show at this venue, and with a country that loves racing, it would be interesting to see how Spain would react to NASCAR coming overseas. Again, this one is not likely to happen, but it would certainly be interesting.
With NASCAR recently introducing a street course to the schedule in Chicago and its instant success, it would make a ton of sense for NASCAR to either add another one to the schedule or move it to a different city. If they want to go international and keep the logistical aspect of it as simple as possible, keeping it intercontinental makes the most sense. What better city to try it in than Toronto, the largest city in Canada? It makes a ton of sense to take the Cup Series to the largest metro area in our neighbor to the north, and it would be easy to envision Cup cars racing through the streets of Toronto. IndyCar currently races the streets of Toronto, so the blueprint is there. This option is much more realistic than some of the other options and one that makes a ton of sense if NASCAR wants to try something different.
Why not go back to Suzuka? NASCAR has been there before, back in 1996 and 1997, when it held a non-points race called the NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka on the east portion of the Suzuka Circuit. With Suzuka being one of the world’s most famous racing courses, NASCAR could take the Cup Series back to Japan and put on a show for Japanese motorsports fans. It would also be a home race for Toyota, which was headquartered and founded in Japan. The intrigue seems to be there. The only major hiccup would be logistics for such a long and intense trip.
Where would you like to see NASCAR go internationally? Are there any places we didn’t mention that you believe would make sense? Do you agree with our selections? Let us know by connecting with us on our socials at The Daily Downforce, and be sure to stick with us year-round for the latest NASCAR news.
It wouldn’t be Daytona without some weird, wacky, and headline-grabbing fallout. From viral Victory Lane moments to renewed debates about driver approval, NASCAR’s biggest race once again delivered more than just on-track drama. And with Michael Jordan celebrating a Daytona 500 win, the spotlight burned brighter than it has in years.
Jordan’s presence mattered. When the most iconic athlete of a generation shows genuine emotion upon winning the Daytona 500, it reminds the wider sports world that this race still matters. That kind of authentic publicity cannot be manufactured. It resonated far beyond the garage. Meanwhile, the O’Reilly Series race added fuel to another ongoing debate. The massive Decker crash, Cleetus McFarland’s Truck debut incident, and past approval inconsistencies have once again raised tough questions. Consistency, transparency, and accountability are now front and center. Add in Austin Hill’s dominance and Ryan Ellis’ career-best sixth-place run to open the season, and Daytona gave fans plenty to talk about on and off the track.
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On May 12, 2000, the NASCAR world arrived at New Hampshire International Speedway expecting another race weekend. Within hours, Adam Petty was gone. His death would become the first domino in an 18-month stretch that forever changed NASCAR’s approach to safety and reshaped the sport at its core.
Adam wasn’t just the grandson of Richard Petty or the son of Kyle Petty; he was a young driver building his own path, fresh off his Cup debut at Texas Motor Speedway and preparing for a future with Dodge and Petty Enterprises. His passing stunned the garage and deeply impacted fans who saw the Petty family as part of their own. From the unanswered mechanical questions to the emotional aftermath that eventually led to the creation of Victory Junction, this is where the Firestorm begins. The fear, the controversy, and the transformation of NASCAR safety all trace back to that Friday in Loudon.
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The O’Reilly series race at Daytona turned into a breaking point. One crash, one late reaction, and suddenly the conversation wasn’t just about race results, it was about standards, accountability, and who truly belongs at this level of NASCAR competition.
The Decker incident reignited long-standing perception issues, especially when outside commentary from figures like Mike Davis amplified the embarrassment factor. At the same time, NASCAR has stepped in before, blocking Wallace, sidelining others like Jennifer Jo Cobb, yet those interventions feel inconsistent. Wright’s pit road mistake added fuel to the argument that funding can outweigh readiness. McFarland, meanwhile, represents a different case, raw but potentially coachable, with time to develop if he chooses that route seriously. Money has always shaped racing careers, but when sponsorship outweighs preparation, the sport risks its credibility. Should NASCAR tighten its standards, or is this simply the cost of doing business in modern motorsports?
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