Jose Blasco-Figueroa, a senior performance engineer for Trackhouse Racing, will mark an unforgettable experience on Sunday as he stands along pit road at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, ready to hear the Mexican national anthem before a NASCAR Cup race for the first time. This event marks a profound homecoming for Blasco-Figueroa, who has recently become a U.S. citizen, combining both his Mexican heritage and American experience at a pivotal NASCAR event.
Emotional Significance of Returning to Mexico for NASCAR
Blasco-Figueroa, who grew up just 25 kilometers from the race track, finds the moment deeply personal. At 52, the Mexico City native reflected on the unique significance of hearing his national anthem before a Cup race, sharing how the anticipation itself moved him emotionally during a conversation with NBC Sports earlier in the month. The event represents not only a professional milestone but also a powerful reminder of his roots and the journey that brought him from his hometown back to a prestigious motorsport stage. The fact that this is the first NASCAR Cup points race outside the continental United States since 1958 gives the event added historical weight.
Reflecting on the importance, Blasco-Figueroa shared:
“Going back there and listening to it, that, to me, is going to be probably the best part of the race regardless of what happens,”
—Jose Blasco-Figueroa, Senior Performance Engineer
“Because … I haven’t heard it (at a Cup race before). I haven’t experienced that.”
—Jose Blasco-Figueroa, Senior Performance Engineer
Blasco-Figueroa’s Journey from Mexico to Trackhouse Racing
Despite not coming from a racing background, Blasco-Figueroa’s early interest in engineering was sparked by a toy Formula One car he received as a child. Intrigued by how things functioned, he pursued a career in engineering and spent his first 23 years in Mexico City. He joined General Motors and, after an initial relocation to Michigan, eventually returned to Mexico. His journey included pursuing a master’s degree in England, with hopes of entering Formula One, though that plan did not come to fruition.
Back in Mexico, he resumed work with General Motors, took on teaching responsibilities for automotive engineers, and collaborated with a NASCAR Mexico Series team. Eventually, his passion for racing led him to quit his corporate job and focus full-time on motorsports. In 2016, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, the heart of American stock car racing, where he secured positions within days at various race shops.
Impact at Trackhouse and on Young Engineers
Since transitioning through teams like BK Racing and Richard Childress Racing, Blasco-Figueroa has become an integral part of Trackhouse Racing’s engineering leadership. He currently supports drivers Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Shane van Gisbergen—all of whom have secured road course victories in the Next Gen era. His influence extends to mentoring the next generation of engineers, sharing both technical skills and strategic understanding of the sport.
Advanced Education and Embracing Innovation
In a commitment to lifelong learning, Blasco-Figueroa recently completed the intensive “Data Science and Machine Learning: Making Data-Driven Decisions” course from the MIT Institute for Data, Systems and Society, dedicating substantial time each week to master new technologies.
“You got to keep up with technology,”
—Jose Blasco-Figueroa, Senior Performance Engineer
“Data science is taking over many things. … AI is just a small part of data science. For us, right here, racing, the amount of data we have is huge.”
—Jose Blasco-Figueroa, Senior Performance Engineer
Racing Strategy and Recent Success
Blasco-Figueroa emphasized the complexity of modern NASCAR racing, highlighting that success comes from more than just building fast cars. Strategy, tire management, and car handling are all vital elements that determine race outcomes. Reflecting on a recent memorable moment, he recounted Trackhouse Racing’s strategic victory over dominant competitors in the Coca-Cola 600.
“A lot of people just think about racing on the part of you’ve going to make fast cars. Yes, you’ve got to make fast cars, but you got to race, right? That’s why strategy also is a part of the game. How you manage your car, how you manage your tires. All of that is coming into place. We just saw it in the (Coca-Cola) 600. (William Byron) dominated the race. Did he win it? No. We won it (with Chastain). Why? Strategy.”
—Jose Blasco-Figueroa, Senior Performance Engineer
A Milestone for Blasco-Figueroa and Trackhouse in Mexico
The possibility of Trackhouse Racing achieving victory on Sunday would cap an already historic and emotional day for Blasco-Figueroa, beginning with the Mexican national anthem and potentially ending with team triumph. This moment unites a personal journey with professional achievement, reflecting the spirit of international racing and the evolving landscape of NASCAR. As engineering, data, and heritage intersect, Blasco-Figueroa’s unique homecoming underscores the importance of representation and innovation in modern motorsports.
