Mexico City in danger of losing 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race

Mexico City may be leaving the NASCAR Cup Series calendar for 2026, despite a well-received debut this year.

Fortunately for fans of the sport who live south of the border, that may just be a brief pause in the running of the event, with a unique confluence of events causing a scheduling problem in 2026 specifically.

The Athletic report that Cup Series teams have told the sport's decision-makers that they would want the logistics of the event to run more smoothly if they're to return, with the league agreeing that an off-week around the race would be the ideal solution.

The Cup Series' packed schedule makes that a challenging proposition though, with a 38-week schedule proving very little wiggle room for off-weeks.

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Mexico City race bracing for setback

The most simple way to find that off-week would be to move the race to one side or other of the Easter weekend, the Cup Series' only scheduled week off between the season opener at Daytona and the 2026 finale at Homestead.

However, there are a number of races typically scheduled around that time, and a relatively late-notice change to those traditional slots would likely face some pushback.

The FIFA Men's World Cup being held partially in Mexico City in June and early July further complicates matters for 2026, while F1 have a confirmed November 1st date at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez too.

The good news for those who enjoyed this year's race though – Shane van Gisbergen included? Any 2026 blip is likely to be just that, with all parties favoring a return to the track in 2027 at worst.

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