Van Gisbergen Wins Mexico NASCAR Race After Verstappen Advice

Shane van Gisbergen secured a dominant victory at the NASCAR Cup Series race held at Mexico City's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, leading 60 of 100 laps and finishing 16.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Christopher Bell. This win, his second in the Cup Series and first since his debut victory in Chicago, guaranteed him a place in the NASCAR playoffs during his rookie season. Van Gisbergen credited four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, a five-time winner at the Mexican GP circuit, for providing crucial advice on navigating the unusually slick, rain-affected track conditions. Despite Verstappen's limited input, the guidance helped van Gisbergen adapt to the unique grip challenges and execute a winning strategy. The race marked NASCAR's first event outside the USA since 1958, with Trackhouse Racing securing two playoff spots through van Gisbergen and teammate Ross Chastain. Meanwhile, local favorite Daniel Suárez, despite his strong showing in the Xfinity Series, finished 19th and was unable to challenge for the win in front of the home crowd.