History is in the making. For the first time since 1958, NASCAR is on the verge of running a points-paying race outside the United States. As expected, the excitement is steadily building as the iconic Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will host the second of six road course races on the 2025 calendar. While drivers are excited about the prospect of racing in Mexico City, the event will also be outside their comfort zone and will bring a fair share of challenges that will push racers to the limits.
Having visited Mexico earlier this year, Chase Elliott knows that breaking his winless streak at the 2.6-mile road course will be far from easy. However, with his winless streak extending to 39 races after the 2025 AdventHealth 400, the No. 9 Chevy driver is desperate to get back to Victory Lane at the Viva Mexico 250 later this year.
Chase Elliott is eager to race in Mexico City
“I think everyone is well-prepared, ready to take on the challenge,” said Chase Elliott when he visited Mexico earlier this year. The 2020 Cup Series champ paid a visit to the country alongside Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, and Christopher Bell to experience the local culture and see how the preparations are coming along ahead of the highly anticipated event. It’s only the third time in 77 years that a points-paying race is being held outside the United States, and the prospect is daunting for the seven-time Most Popular Driver recipient.
Sharing his thoughts about racing in Mexico, Chase Elliott candidly said, “Road courses are always in my opinion, a little bit more physical than ovals are. Which from our standpoint, you’re working a lot. You’re shifting a lot more throttle and brake. With that being said, I know for one thing, you go out west, and you go climb a flight of stairs, it’s different than climbing a flight of stairs at home, right? I think everyone can attest to that. Higher elevation, so.”
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez track is 2,240 metres above sea level, which makes it one of the highest-altitude circuits in the world. Apart from the obvious challenges of competing on road courses, driving at a higher elevation also reduces the amount of downforce and drag generated because of the reduced air density. Moreover, with the air being thinner in Mexico City, the reduced air pressure means that tires and brakes don’t get as much air flowing through them, making it difficult to cool them down.
.@chaseelliott says what makes @IMS special to him and what he’s looking forward to in a few weeks from @NASCARMexico_ #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/zXLg6Bci8L
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 24, 2025
And then there’s the human element. Drivers get tired faster at the highest level, which increases the chances of wrecks. Even aspects like pit stops are noticeably slower, making acclimatizing key to get maximum performance. However, Chase Elliott is looking forward to the race despite the uncertainty surrounding the conditions, saying, “I do think the Mexico City thing is seemingly a trial run to see what racing outside the US might look like. I’m as curious as everyone else as to how it’s going to go and what it’s going to look like.”
Elliott sheds light on drivers’ adaptability
Exceeding 200 mph, especially on tracks such as Daytona International Speedway or Talladega Superspeedway, is no joke. In fact, for the common man, the prospect can be downright terrifying, especially when you’re navigating through traffic at such a high speed. However, when it comes to NASCAR professionals, the prospect of living life in the fast lane no longer gives them that adrenaline rush, as it becomes part of their routine once they have accepted the inherent risks of their job.
Speaking on the MeatEater Podcast Network with host Steven Rinella, Chase Elliott addressed a question many fans have pondered over in the past. Do racers not fear death? On that note, he said, “It’s like so the thrill factor of it goes away after time, and then you start focusing in on more of like the small little fine details of how can I push the car a little further?” That’s when the competitive spirit takes over, prompting the driver to say, “It becomes so much more competition-based.” Squeezing every last drop of performance becomes key instead of thinking about the worst-case scenario.
NASCAR has always been a sport defined by fine margins, and with teams relying on single-source suppliers for Next-Gen cars, the difference between winning and losing is even more negligible. Chase Elliott would know that all too well, having finished inside the top five three times already this season, even though Victory Lane continues to elude the former Cup Series champ while his teammates continue to achieve success at the highest level.
The post Winless Chase Elliott Aware of His NASCAR Challenge in International Waters appeared first on EssentiallySports.
