The NASCAR Cup Series is heading into new territory this weekend with the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and the preliminary entry list reflects a blend of international flair, championship contenders, and one notable part-time participant. With 37 cars entered, including one Open entry, NASCAR fans will see history in the making as stock cars hit the streets of Mexico City for the first time at the Cup level.
All 36 full-time chartered teams are present and accounted for, while the lone “Open” entry comes courtesy of Live Fast Motorsports, which is bringing in a familiar face from the world of open-wheel and sports cars — Katherine Legge.
Katherine Legge Returns, Flying Solo as the Open Entry
British racer Katherine Legge will make her second career NASCAR Cup Series start, piloting the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports, with e.l.f. Cosmetics as the primary sponsor. Her Cup debut came earlier this season at Phoenix Raceway, where she finished 30th. Though not a household name in NASCAR, Legge brings decades of international experience from IndyCar, IMSA, and Formula E, making her an intriguing wildcard for the Mexico City event.
At 44, Legge remains competitive and determined. Her participation is a reminder that NASCAR’s global appeal is growing, and her presence may draw new fans to the race — particularly given the venue’s global motorsport reputation.
Hometown Hero: Daniel Suárez Carries Mexico’s Flag
All eyes in Mexico City will be on Daniel Suárez, the only Mexican-born driver in the field. Suárez, who drives the No. 99 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, will represent his country with Telcel-Infinitum backing him at his home race.
Suárez is no stranger to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, having competed here in NASCAR Mexico Series and international events. But this will mark his first time racing in front of a home crowd at the Cup level. It’s a significant moment for the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, who will look to turn local support into momentum on a tricky and unfamiliar road course.
Trackhouse, co-owned by Justin Marks and Pitbull, has long been committed to expanding NASCAR’s diversity and footprint. Suárez, one of the team’s cornerstones, will be among the top storylines this weekend.
Top Contenders, Team Notes, and What’s at Stake
As expected, all major players are present. Denny Hamlin, fresh off his win at Michigan, returns in the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin, a three-time winner in 2025, leads the projected seeding for NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge and will look to build off that momentum in Mexico City.
Other heavy hitters in the field include:
Kyle Larson (No. 5), one of the sport’s best on road courses.
William Byron (No. 24), looking to rebound after a fuel mishap at Michigan.
Ty Gibbs (No. 54) and Chris Buescher (No. 17), who both finished top-3 last week and are playoff contenders.
The field also includes returning road course ringers such as Shane van Gisbergen (No. 88), who shocked the world with a win in his debut last season in Chicago. This will be SVG’s second Cup Series start of the season, again with Trackhouse Racing.
Notably, three organizations — RFK Racing, Trackhouse Racing, and Hendrick Motorsports — bring in stacked lineups that could dominate the front of the field. RFK in particular is surging, with all three of its drivers finishing inside the top 10 last week at Michigan.
Meanwhile, Kaulig Racing, 23XI Racing, and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB will aim to make a splash on a layout that levels the playing field and rewards precision over horsepower.
Full Entry List: A Global Grid
The 37-driver field includes entries from all corners of NASCAR’s current landscape: champions, road course aces, rookies, and veterans.
| POS. | No. | Driver |
| 1 | 1 | Ross Chastain |
| 2 | 2 | Austin Cindric |
| 3 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 4 | 4 | Noah Gragson |
| 5 | 5 | Kyle Larson |
| 6 | 6 | Brad Keselowski |
| 7 | 7 | Justin Haley |
| 8 | 8 | Kyle Busch |
| 9 | 9 | Chase Elliott |
| 10 | 10 | Ty Dillon |
| 11 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 12 | 12 | Ryan Blaney |
| 13 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger |
| 14 | 17 | Chris Buescher |
| 15 | 19 | Chase Briscoe |
| 16 | 20 | Christopher Bell |
| 17 | 21 | Josh Berry |
| 18 | 22 | Joey Logano |
| 19 | 23 | Bubba Wallace |
| 20 | 24 | William Byron |
| 21 | 34 | Todd Gilliland |
| 22 | 35 | Riley Herbst |
| 23 | 38 | Zane Smith |
| 24 | 41 | Cole Custer |
| 25 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek |
| 26 | 43 | Erik Jones |
| 27 | 45 | Tyler Reddick |
| 28 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. |
| 29 | 48 | Alex Bowman |
| 30 | 51 | Cody Ware |
| 31 | 54 | Ty Gibbs |
| 32 | 60 | Ryan Preece |
| 33 | 71 | Michael McDowell |
| 34 | 77 | Carson Hocevar |
| 35 | 78 | Katherine Legge |
| 36 | 88 | Shane Van Gisbergen |
| 37 | 99 | Daniel Suarez |
From AJ Allmendinger to Tyler Reddick, and from Austin Dillon to Joey Logano, the lineup is as deep as ever. With no drivers going home due to the sub-40-car field, everyone has a shot at making history in the first-ever Cup Series race in Mexico.
News in Brief: Viva Mexico 250 Entry List
The Viva Mexico 250 marks a bold step for NASCAR, signaling the sport’s continued push toward international expansion and fanbase diversification. With 37 entries, including the return of Katherine Legge and the pride of Daniel Suárez racing at home, the event is loaded with intrigue.
More than just a new race on the calendar, this Sunday’s event is a cultural milestone — blending stock car racing with the rich motorsport heritage of Mexico. Fans across the globe will be watching as NASCAR crosses yet another border.
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