As the NASCAR Cup Series roars into uncharted territory at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for its first-ever points-paying race in Mexico, all eyes are on who will conquer the winding and bumpy 2.678-mile road course. With limited track time and rising temperatures, practice sessions have already shuffled expectations. But if the past is any indicator, recent history with the Next Gen car on road courses could provide a roadmap for who might shine in Sunday’s Viva México 250.
The Next Gen Road Warriors
Since its introduction in 2022, the Next Gen car has changed the game on road courses, emphasizing driver skill, braking consistency, and adaptability over raw speed. Among the elite road course winners in the Next Gen era, Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson stand at the top with three victories each. Their knack for attacking corners and managing tire wear has translated into dominant performances.
Reddick, driving the No. 45 for 23XI Racing, has proven his road course chops with a trio of wins, showcasing smooth aggression and precise braking. His versatility makes him a threat in any road course setting, especially in Mexico, where technicality and rhythm are key.
Kyle Larson, representing Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 5 Chevrolet, mirrors Reddick’s skillset but adds an extra level of fearlessness, often finding time where others back off. Though his practice pace was modest this weekend, Larson’s track record makes him a driver to watch when the green flag drops.
Christopher Bell and William Byron, each with two Next Gen road course wins, aren’t far behind. Bell, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, thrives on clean execution and strategy—a crucial asset on a track as unpredictable as Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Byron, the current points leader, didn’t flash top-tier pace in Friday’s sessions, but his consistency and adaptability could see him emerge late in the race.
The 12 different winners on road courses with the NextGen car: pic.twitter.com/0OHfW3occP
— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) June 13, 2025
Other proven road course winners in the Next Gen era include Chris Buescher (1 win), AJ Allmendinger (1), Alex Bowman (1), and Michael McDowell (1). Each of them, especially Allmendinger and McDowell, are known road course specialists with high upside at a track like this.
Practice Makes Pressure: Friday Sessions Shake Up the Field
Friday’s two practice sessions were the Cup Series’ only chance to get a feel for Mexico’s unique layout before qualifying. Surprisingly, it was Michael McDowell who topped the first session, clocking a 94.024-second lap in his No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. Known for his road course finesse, McDowell outpaced drivers from powerhouse teams and laid down the fastest lap of the day across both sessions.
Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs, both from Joe Gibbs Racing, followed closely behind. Ty Gibbs in particular showed consistency, backing up his third-place effort in Practice 1 with another third-place run in Practice 2. Austin Cindric, another road course threat, was fourth in the opening round, with Kyle Larson placing fifth.
The final practice saw a new name on top: Todd Gilliland. Driving the No. 34 for Front Row Motorsports, Gilliland posted a 93.496-second lap—the quickest of the entire day. He was followed by Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and Chris Buescher.
Blaney and Buescher both showed significant improvement in the second session, while William Byron and Chase Elliott made up ground after lackluster early runs. Meanwhile, top road course names like Shane van Gisbergen (9th in Practice 2) and Daniel Suárez (12th in Practice 1) hovered around the top 10, reinforcing their roles as dark horses for Sunday.
With the track evolving and tire strategy looming large, the takeaway from Friday is clear: the pecking order is far from settled.
What to Watch for in the Viva México 250
Sunday’s race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is more than just another road course event; it’s a test of who can master unfamiliar territory quickly. While the stats favor previous Next Gen road course winners like Reddick, Larson, and Bell, Friday’s practice sessions revealed that Mexico could be a leveler.
Michael McDowell’s P1 showing and Todd Gilliland’s fastest overall time hint at a possible shake-up in traditional road course dominance. McDowell has always been strong at these layouts, and with a solid car underneath him, he could be poised to grab his second Next Gen road win.
Meanwhile, Ty Gibbs looks like he’s ready to earn his first Cup Series victory, if not in Mexico, then very soon. His consistency across both sessions was matched only by veterans like Chris Buescher and Ryan Blaney—both of whom have top-five finishes on road courses with the Next Gen car.
Eyes will also be on Hendrick Motorsports. Larson remains a danger, while Byron and Elliott will be looking to make up ground after muted practice showings. For strategy-driven drivers like Bell and Suárez, fuel windows, restarts, and caution timing could be race-defining.
Add in the uncertainty of pit road, potential mechanical issues due to the bumpy surface, and the high ambient temperatures, and it’s clear that this won’t be a typical Sunday cruise.
News In Brief: NASCAR Next-Gen Road Course Winners
As NASCAR’s best prepare to battle at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the combination of new terrain and proven Next Gen road course talent promises an electric showdown. Drivers like Reddick, Larson, and Bell have built strong road course resumés, but Friday’s surprising pace from Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland means no one can be overlooked. With track time limited and strategy playing a bigger role than ever, Sunday’s Viva México 250 could see a new name join the list of Next Gen road course victors.
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