Under cloudy skies at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Sunday, Shane van Gisbergen delivered a remarkable performance that captured the attention of NASCAR fans worldwide. The New Zealand driver, starting from pole position, controlled the road course race with a dominance rarely seen in recent times, marking a significant milestone with his Shane van Gisbergen record-setting NASCAR victory Mexico achievement.
Van Gisbergen’s winning margin over runner-up Christopher Bell was an extraordinary 16.567 seconds, the largest gap recorded in the Next Gen era of NASCAR. Reflecting on his race during the post-event interview, Van Gisbergen explained the unusual ease with which he maintained his lead.
The tire life was epic and they kept getting smaller in the mirror. Then they’re telling me to slow down and I tried to slow down. But I kept making mistakes. You just lose concentration. So, I stayed in a nice rhythm and see you later,
he said.
Historic Feat: First Driver Since the 1960s to Win First Two Inaugural Cup Races
Van Gisbergen’s triumph in Mexico City added a distinctive chapter to his career, as he became the first driver since Marvin Porter in 1960 to claim victories in his first two races at newly introduced Cup Series tracks. This achievement highlights his quick adaptation to new circuits and places him among rare company in NASCAR history.
His initial Cup win took place at the Chicago Street Course in 2023, making this recent victory his second at a fresh venue. The 16.567-second winning margin also stands as the widest since Kurt Busch’s 25.686-second win in Texas during the Fall 2009 race, a contest dominated by fuel mileage strategies and limited lead lap finishers.
With this impressive display, Van Gisbergen has secured a well-deserved spot in the NASCAR playoffs, cementing his status as a serious contender for the rest of the season.
Shane van Gisbergen wins at Mexico City, he is the first driver since Marvin Porter in 1960 to win his first two races in inaugural Cup races at a track.
SVG won by 16.567 seconds, the largest margin of victory in the Cup Series since Kurt Busch at Texas in Fall 2009.
—NASCAR Insights
Teammate Daniel Suarez’s Emotional Weekend and Support for Van Gisbergen
Sharing the spotlight in Mexico City was Daniel Suarez, Van Gisbergen’s Trackhouse Racing teammate, who returned to his home country with mixed emotions. Suarez raced in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports on Saturday, delighting local fans with a heartfelt victory amid chants of his name and the stirring sounds of the Mexican national anthem.
Though his Sunday race ended with a 19th-place finish, Suarez demonstrated sportsmanship and solidarity by congratulating Van Gisbergen during the cool down lap.
Reflecting on his own race, Suarez admitted:
I feel like today, I gave my best, but it just wasn’t good enough. I wish I was in the mix a little more fighting up front, but it just wasn’t in the cards today. I’m happy with the performance. I don’t feel like I left anything on the table, just wasn’t meant to be.
—Daniel Suarez, Driver
Implications and Momentum for Trackhouse Racing Moving Forward
The success of Van Gisbergen and Suarez during the Mexico City weekend has underscored the strength and potential of Trackhouse Racing. Their achievements on foreign soil brought excitement and hope to NASCAR’s expanding international presence.
Van Gisbergen’s breakthrough wins and Suarez’s strong performances are likely to boost team morale and provide momentum as the NASCAR series shifts back to the U.S. for upcoming events. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if this form continues into the crucial playoff stages.