NASCAR Mexico Series explained

NASCAR Mexico Series
Image-Size:250px
Category:Stock Cars
Country/Region:Mexico
United States
Inaugural2:2004
Manufacturers:Chevrolet
Ford
Toyota (formerly)
Mazda (formerly)
Dodge (formerly)
Tires:General Tire
Champion Driver:Salvador de Alba
Champion Team:Sidral Aga Racing
Manufacturer:Ford
Website:www.nascar.mx/
Current Season: NASCAR Mexico Series

The NASCAR Mexico Series (formerly NASCAR Corona Series and other names) is a NASCAR series in Mexico. It is the most prestigious stock car racing series in the country.

Origins (Desafío Corona)

See main article: Desafío Corona. The Desafío Corona was established in 2004 by NASCAR Mexico, a joint-venture between NASCAR and Mexican entertainment group OCESA, with the idea of developing stock car racing in Mexico, and fueling a transition from the country's historically Open-wheel car racing fan base to stock car racing.[1]

From 2004 to 2006, the Desafío Corona grew considerably in infrastructure, as well as in number of fans, drivers and sponsors.

Present

The NASCAR Mexico Corona Series was officially presented at the 2006 Desafío Corona award ceremony.[2] Toyota assumed naming rights in 2012, dubbing it the NASCAR Toyota Series.[3]

The series is one of three NASCAR-sanctioned international series, the others are the NASCAR Pinty's Series and the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. Following North American short-track racing trends to cut costs and unify rules among different tours, NASCAR is considering changes to the Canadian Tire and Corona Series where the two series adopt the Busch rules as to allow the competitors to use the same cars in NASCAR Busch Series races.

The winner of the series championship received an invitation to the UNOH Battle at the Beach, formerly the Toyota All-Star Showdown. All other drivers may also attempt to qualify by entering the heat races.

2016 hiatus

After the end of the 2015 season, the series was suspended supposedly due to the fact that organizers of the series wanted to instead support the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix, which had just been revived for 2015. Several of the teams and drivers that participated in the series moved to the Super Copa Telcel "V8" series.

2017 return

In October 2016 it was announced that the series would return with new sponsorship from PEAK Antifreeze, with an exhibition race that December to be followed by a full 2017 season.[4]

Also in 2017 two supporter series were created: the NASCAR FedEx Challenge Series and NASCAR Mikel's Truck Series.

The series lost its sponsorship with PEAK Antifreeze in 2023, which was when a playoff system was implemented to the series.

Mexico Series tracks

In its 14 seasons, the NASCAR Mexico Series has used 16 tracks in 14 venues (two in Santiago de Querétaro and two in San Luis Potosí). Currently, six oval tracks are used, only Autódromo Monterrey is a road circuit. Three tracks have been used in two configurations. Autódromo Monterrey long and frijol, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in NASCAR Nationwide and oval, Autódromo Miguel E. Abed in a layout and oval.

Autódromo Potosino is the shortest track with a distance of and Autódromo Monterrey the longest track with a distance of .

San Luis Potosí is the venue with more races (34, 32 in Autódromo Potosino and 2 in Parque Tangamanga II)

NASCAR Mexico had powered the construction of oval tracks in México, Autódromo Potosino was remodeled in 2001, Aguascalientes,[5] Chiapas,[6] Querétaro[7] had new tracks for NASCAR events. In 2012, a speedway in Chihuahua was scheduled for inauguration.[8]

For 2013, a race in the Southwestern United States was held: a 75-lap, 75-mile (122 km) race at Phoenix International Raceway during the NASCAR Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 weekend.

For 2024, the series held an event as part of the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, conducted at a temporary circuit around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Mexico Series race was a support race for the Clash, and it was won by Daniel Suárez.

VenueTracksYears
2004–2019, 2022–present
2004–2015, 2017–present
2004–2010, 2017-2022
2004–2014, 2017–2019, 2021–present
2005–2015, 2017–present
2006–2015, 2017–present
2008–2011, 2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2021–present
2009–2015, 2017–present
2012–2015, 2018–2019, 2022–present
2024

Former tracks

!City !!Track !! Years
2004
2004
Autódromo de Zacatecas 2004–2009
2004, 2017
2013–2015
2017

Cars

In the first season, only General Motors (through its Pontiac division) and Dodge participated in the series.[9] Ford made its debut in 2005 with its Mustang model,[10] but since 2006, the Fusion is the Ford model entry.[11] In 2009, Toyota started its participation with its Camry. The Mazda 6 was first entered in 2010.[12] As with the other NASCAR divisions in the United States, Dodge subsequently pulled its factory support and no longer participates in the Mexican series.

Along with the other international series, the K&N Pro Series East and West, and the ARCA Menards Series, the Mexico Series has General Tire as an exclusive tire supplier.[13]

Most wins

RankManufacturerWinsRaces% Wins
1 Toyota8314856.1%
2 Ford4821822.0%
3 General Motors4122018.6%
4 Dodge2220810.6%
5 Mazda147119.7%

Specifications

Champions

Six drivers have won the championship. The Telcel team is the most successful with four drivers' championships. Rubén García, Jr. is the youngest champion (20 years old), and Rafael Martínez the eldest. (45 years old).[14] Rubén García Jr. has the most championships to his name with 4.

SeasonDriverOwner(s)No.ManufacturerStartsWinsTop 10sPolesPoints (margin)
2004Carlos PardoTelcel Sun Motorola6Pontiac1441222326 (69)
2005Jorge GoetersRamiro Fidalgo18Pontiac / Dodge14442320 (48)
2006Rogelio LópezCarlos Slim48Pontiac / Dodge14572204 (75)
2007Rafael MartínezRamiro Fidalgo18Ford Fusion1471232250 (4)
2008Antonio PérezJimmy Morales1Dodge1451222182 (29)
2009Germán QuirogaMónica Morales2Ford1431242273 (276)
2010Germán QuirogaMónica Morales2Dodge1431122173 (150)
2011Germán QuirogaMónica Morales2Dodge1431222272 (286)
2012Jorge GoetersRamiro Fidalgo31Mazda142120539 (34)
2013Rodrigo PeraltaDenisse Guaida24Ford1411101198 (8)
2014Abraham CalderónMonica Morales2Dodge/Toyota1501111200 (9)
2015Rubén García, Jr.Juan Pablo García88Toyota1531231213 (18)
2017Abraham CalderónJimmy Morales2Toyota12591468 (27)
2018Rubén García, Jr.Juan Pablo García88Toyota123122452 (23)
2019Rubén García, Jr.Juan Pablo García88Toyota124112496 (21)
2020Rubén RoveloAlessandros Racing28Ford125110522 (14)
2021Salvador de AlbaSidral Aga Racing team48Ford124102483 (6)
2022Rubén García, Jr.Juan Pablo García88Toyota12410478 (9)
2023Salvador de AlbaSidral Aga Racing team48Ford124101444 (11)

Rookie of the Year

SeasonDriverCarTeam
2004 Ignacio AlvaradoPontiacAlvarado Racing
2005 Patricio JourdainFordMotorcraft Racing
2006 Antonio PérezPontiacEscudería Telmex
2007 Mike SánchezChevroletMAG Paper
2008 Irwin VencesFordFCV Racing
2009 Alejandro CapínChevroletMT Sport Marketing
2010 Daniel SuárezDodgeSC Racing/Equipo Telcel
2011 Enrique Contreras IIIDodgeFénix Racing Team
2012 Rubén García, Jr.ToyotaSC Racing
2013 Santiago TovarToyota
Chevrolet
2014 Rodrigo MarbanToyotaPatricia Marban (owner)
2015 Manolin GutierrezFordH&H HighSpeed
2017 Enrique BacaChevrolet
Toyota
Jimmy Morales (owner)
2018 Fabián WelterToyotaJimmy Morales (owner)
2019 Jacobo CosioDodgeSamantha Valadez (owner)
2020 Luis Michael DorrbeckerFordJimmy Morales (owner)
2021 Max GutiérrezChevroletJimmy Morales (owner)
2023 Andrés Pérez de LaraChevroletJimmy Morales (owner)
*in 2022 there were no rookies in the main category, the best rookie was awarded from the challenge category

Series winners

List of winners

Updated after 2024 Querétaro (August, 2024)

Key
width=40px align=center style="background-color:#FBCEB1"Driver is currently racing in the 2024 season
BoldNASCAR Mexico Champion
RankDriverWinsFirstLast
1 Rubén Rovelo262008 Guadalajara 12021 San Luis Potosí 2
2 Rogelio López262004 Guadalajara 22022 Chiapas
3 Rubén García Jr.252013 Aguascalientes 12024 San Luis Potosí 2
4 Rafael Martínez192005 Guadalajara 22013 Querétaro 2
5 Germán Quiroga172004 San Luis Potosí 12011 Aguascalientes 2
6 Abraham Calderón172013 Phoenix2024 Chiapas
7 Homero Richards152009 Guadalajara2018 Monterrey
8 Salvador de Alba142018 Guadalajara 22023 Puebla 1
9 Jorge Goeters132004 México City 12012 Monterrey 2
10 Antonio Pérez122007 Monterrey 22013 San Luis Potosí 2
11 Irwin Vences122013 México City 22024 Querétaro 1
12 Daniel Suárez112012 México City 12024 Los Angeles
13 Carlos Pardo102004 Torreón2009 Puebla 1
14 Rubén Pardo72004 Querétaro 22015 Phoenix
15 Xavi Razo62017 México City2024 Monterrey
16 Patrick Goeters52005 México City 12013 Puebla 2
17 José Luis Ramírez52010 Chiapas 22022 Querétaro 2
18 Carlos Contreras22004 Guadalajara 12004 Querétaro 1
18 Freddy Tame Jr.22006 Puebla 32007 Querétaro 1
18 Hugo Oliveras22009 Querétaro 12012 México City 2
18 Rodrigo Peralta22013 Aguascalientes 22015 Querétaro 1
18 Santiago Tovar22015 Aguascalientes 12019 Chiapas
18 Julio Rejón22023 Aguascalientes 22023 Puebla 2
24 Andrés Pérez de Lara12024 Aguascalientes 12024 Aguascalientes 1
24 Max Gutierrez12023 Chihuahua 22023 Chihuahua 2
24 Jake Cosio12023 Querétaro 12023 Querétaro 1
24 César Tiberio Jiménez12004 Monterrey2004 Monterrey
24 Fernando Plata12006 San Luis Potosí 12006 San Luis Potosí 1
24 Ricardo Pérez de Lara12008 Zacatecas2008 Zacatecas
24 Waldemar Coronas12008 Querétaro 22008 Querétaro 2
24 Héctor Aguirre12013 Mexico City 12013 Mexico City 1
24 Luis Felipe Montaño12014 México City 12014 México City 1
24 Pepe González12015 México City 22015 México City 2
24 Michel Jourdain Jr.12017 León2017 León

University of Northwestern Ohio Battle at the Beach

Mexico Series champions are invited to the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown (now the University of Northwestern Ohio Battle at the Beach). In 2011 Daniel Suárez, Germán Quiroga and Rubén Rovelo took part. They finished in 11th, 12th and 30th, respectly.[15]

The 2012 Series champion, along with international counterparts in Canada and Europe, will be invited to participate with an automatically exempt entry in any of the three divisions (Late Model, K&N Pro, Whelen Modified) in the Battle at the Beach, which will be held a week and a half before the series race at Phoenix International Raceway.

YearRaceVenueDriverStartFinish
2007Toyota All-Star ShowdownIrwindale Rubén Pardo2921
2008Toyota All-Star Showdown Rogelio López1613
Antonio Pérez4031
2009Toyota All-Star Showdown Antonio Pérez818
2010Last Chance Rubén Rovelo19
2011Toyota All-Star Showdown Daniel Suárez1211
German Quiroga2512
Rubén Rovelo1930
2013UNOH Battle At The BeachDaytona Jorge Goeters2613

Female drivers

To date, three women have started a NASCAR Mexico Series race, three started a Trucks Mexico Series race and one started a NASCAR Challenge race. Mara Reyes scored a pole position in her first race.

Regina sirvent was the first woman to win a Trucks Mexico Series race.

DriverSeasonEntriesStartsWinsTop 10
Mara Reyes2004–20052828020
Leslie González20051100
Estefania Reyes2007, 2010–2011211700
Regina Sirvent*2022-30?*?2**?
Valeria aranda**2019-40????
Andrea Lozano**2022-201909
*In Challenge Series (run in the same races at the same time with NASCAR Mexico Series)

**In Trucks Mexico Series

Other NASCAR series

Some drivers of NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series have taken part in Xfinity Series and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (now Craftsman Truck Series), action, but only Jorge Goeters and Daniel Suárez have both raced in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series. Scott Riggs, Cody Ware, and Kevin O'Connell all only made one start in the PEAK Mexico Series but had also run in the Cup Series. Rubén Pardo, Rogelio López and Rubén García Jr. have won in the K&N Pro Series East; while Daniel Suárez has won in the K&N Pro Series East, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and NASCAR Cup Series. In 2016, Suárez won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2017 and 2018, he moved to the NASCAR Cup Series driving No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2019, he moved to the No. 41 driving for Stewart-Haas Racing before moving to the No. 96 driving for Gaunt Brothers Racing, then moved to the No. 99 for Trackhouse Racing Team. On June 12, 2022, Suárez won his first career NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.

NASCAR Cup Series drivers

Five drivers have raced both the NASCAR PEAK Mexico and NASCAR Cup Series.

DriverMexico Series Starts
Jorge Goeters2004–Present1150136098
Daniel Suárez2009–201419576102639
Scott Riggs20102081000
Cody Ware2014711000
Kevin O'Connell201511000

Notes and References

  1. Web site: OCESA y SELCA presentan su nuevo serial como "Desafío Corona 2004". Sporcar.com. March 5, 2004.
  2. Web site: El Desafío Corona será en 2007 Nascar-México. La Jornada. December 8, 2006.
  3. Web site: La Temporada 2012 Será NASCAR Toyota Series. NASCAR México. February 16, 2012. February 18, 2012. May 1, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130501011349/http://www.nascarmexico.com.mx//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=592&Itemid=27&version=v8. dead.
  4. Web site: NASCAR returns to Mexico for 2017 with new sponsor PEAK. 18 October 2016. Las Vegas Sun. 2016-10-19. Las Vegas, NV. https://web.archive.org/web/20161019091534/http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/oct/19/nascar-returns-to-mexico-for-2017-with-new-sponsor/. 2016-10-19.
  5. Web site: El óvalo de Aguascalientes: 1.4 km.. ESTO. March 11, 2009. December 23, 2011. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051427/http://www.oem.com.mx/esto/notas/n1078763.htm. dead.
  6. Web site: Inauguran con gran éxito Autódromo Chiapas; más de 20 mil aficionados en la 13a. fecha de la NASCAR. Instituto de Comunicación Social de Chiapas. October 13, 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120308091113/http://www.cocoso.chiapas.gob.mx/documento.php?id=20081012110502. March 8, 2012.
  7. Web site: Impresiona el Autódromo. ESTO. March 8, 2008. December 23, 2011. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093321/http://www.oem.com.mx/esto/notas/n621031.htm. dead.
  8. Web site: El Dorado Speedway, nuevo óvalo NASCAR en México. NASCAR Europe. December 19, 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20120905200100/http://www.nascar-europe.net/2011/12/19/el-dorado-speedway-nuevo-ovalo-nascar-en-mexico/. September 5, 2012.
  9. Web site: Mopar – Seman Baker seguirá teniendo los únicos autos Dodge en el Desafío. Sportcar. June 23, 2004. April 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001103/http://www.sportcar.com/%2BHoja.asp?Hoja=05%2Fmex%2Fselca%2FIndex.asp. February 2, 2017. dead.
  10. Web site: Ford entra al Desafío Corona con el Mustang 2005. Sportcar. January 25, 2005.
  11. Web site: El Ford Fusion corre en los Stock Cars. Sportcar. February 2, 2006.
  12. Web site: Mazda de México participará en la NASCAR Corona Series. Portal Automotriz. April 9, 2010. May 9, 2011. March 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305174510/http://www.portalautomotriz.com/content/site/module/news/op/displaystory/story_id/29215/format/html. dead.
  13. Web site: General Tire to Serve as Exclusive Tire Supplier For NASCAR's K&N Pro Series, Pinty's Series and PEAK Mexico Series. NASCAR Home Tracks. February 5, 2019. February 5, 2019.
  14. Web site: Conquista Rafael Martínez título en Nascar. Milenio. November 16, 2008.
  15. Web site: Suarez almost at the top ten; Rovelo in an accident at the Toyota All-Star. Escuderia Telmex. January 30, 2011.