The recent NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City marked the first points race for the series outside the United States since 1958, generating substantial excitement but also drawing criticism, particularly around its structure. Ryan Blaney, the defending champion, fueled the debate over race improvements, spotlighting the need for changes to the event’s length and timing, with his comments emphasizing the importance of the Ryan Blaney Mexico NASCAR race improvement.
Fans flocked to the Mexico City event, making it a standout spectacle in the bustling metropolis, while drivers noted that the enthusiastic crowd energized the competition. Although the race was widely considered a success, it did not go without scrutiny. Many in attendance raised issues regarding proper safety standards at the venue, and Carson Hocevar’s culturally insensitive remarks on Twitch brought further controversy. Still, the core concern revolved around the event’s extended length—a topic Blaney addressed directly.
Champion Highlights Need for Shorter Race Format
Appearing on the Rubbin’ is Racing with Spider podcast, Ryan Blaney openly reflected on how the Mexico NASCAR race could be tweaked to enhance competition and reduce fatigue for participants. He directly addressed the primary critique about the lap count, stating,
“I think it could have been cut a little bit. 100 laps around that place is a lot. I think you could cut it down to like 80 laps, and it’s going to be just as good of a race,”
—Ryan Blaney, 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
Blaney acknowledged the difficulties NASCAR faces when setting race parameters at a new international venue, especially with no prior experience to guide expectations. He argued that a race featuring 80 laps instead of 100 would maintain high energy and competitiveness while also addressing some of the fatigue and logistical issues for drivers, teams, and officials.
Despite his criticisms, the Team Penske driver expressed enthusiasm for NASCAR’s push for global outreach. Blaney was clear that he would welcome participating in a Mexico City event again, though he cautioned that the demanding back-to-back race schedule puts additional pressure on everyone involved.
Calls for Better Scheduling Following International Races
Ryan Blaney went further, advocating for a restructured calendar to provide teams an opportunity to recover after international races. He suggested that moving the Mexico race to the Bristol slot, directly before the Easter break, would have been a wise adjustment because it would create a much-needed pause in the hectic NASCAR season. Currently, personnel must contend with international travel and return home, only to have minimal turnaround before competing again at places like Pocono.
This packed calendar, Blaney explained, leaves teams with insufficient time to rest or fine-tune their strategy between events. Highlighting the toll of quick turnarounds, he stated,
“I would like to see, maybe it’s a week off after an international event, just to give everybody a little bit of a breather, time to reset… That would be a good idea, have an off weekend after an international race for multiple reasons,”
—Ryan Blaney, 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
His remarks echoed earlier comments from Jeff Gordon, a celebrated champion himself, who has warned about the dangers of overloading the NASCAR calendar. With this season currently featuring just a single off weekend amid a grueling 38-race slate, both Blaney and Gordon argue that pushing the schedule further—especially with more international destinations—could become unsustainable for drivers, teams, and all support personnel.
Examining the Path Forward for NASCAR’s Global Push
The debut of the Mexico City race served as an important milestone for NASCAR’s international ambitions. However, as voices like Ryan Blaney’s suggest, meaningful changes are necessary as the organization looks to repeat or expand such international events. Discussions now center not only on how to enhance the race-day experience but also on schedule improvements to ensure the health and well-being of all participants—drivers, personnel, and supporting teams alike.
With leading figures such as Blaney and Jeff Gordon calling for smarter planning, NASCAR faces increasing pressure to address these concerns for future international competitions. How the organization adapts its format and calendar will likely determine the success and sustainability of racing ventures beyond the United States.
