Rubén Rovelo Bio
Rubén Rovelo (born 3 October 1987) is a Mexican professional racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 35 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen. Rovelo is a former champion of the NASCAR Mexico Series, having won the 2020 title.
Over the course of his career, Rovelo has built a reputation in his home country as a consistent winner in stock car competition. He has also ventured north to compete in NASCAR’s development ladder, gaining experience on ovals in the United States while continuing to race in Mexico.
Early Life and Background
Rubén Rovelo was born on October 3, 1987, in Mexico City, Mexico. Growing up in the capital of one of the most passionate racing markets in the world, Rovelo was exposed to motorsports at an early age. Mexico City has long produced competitive drivers across multiple racing disciplines, and that environment helped shape his early interest in the sport.
Public details about his family and formal education are limited. What is known is that his hometown of Mexico City would later play a major role in his career, both as a home track and as the site of his most high-profile NASCAR opportunity in 2025.
Path to NASCAR
Rovelo began his national-level stock car career in the NASCAR Mexico Series, making his first start in 2008 at the Queretaro 200. He quickly found success, winning his first race that same year at Guadalajara. His early results established him as a rising talent within the series and laid the foundation for a long run of competitive seasons in Mexico.
Looking to expand his experience, Rovelo moved north to compete in the United States in 2010, when he ran a partial schedule in the ARCA Menards Series East (then known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East). He made his first start in that series at the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 at Greenville and also competed in the Slack Auto Parts 150 at Jefferson, recording one top-ten finish and a best series result of 25th in the standings. The trip north gave him oval-track experience on American circuits.
Rubén Rovelo Career
Early Career (2008-2012)
Rovelo’s professional career began in 2008 in the NASCAR Mexico Series, where he became a regular contender almost immediately. His first victory at Guadalajara that year marked him as a driver to watch, and he continued adding wins across the following seasons. The combination of road course skill and oval-track consistency allowed him to remain a fixture near the front of the field in Mexico’s premier stock car championship.
During this period, Rovelo also ventured into the ARCA Menards Series East in 2010 to gain exposure to American ovals. While his results in the United States were limited, the experience helped him sharpen his race craft and prepared him for a future return to NASCAR national series competition.
NASCAR Mexico Series Breakthrough (2013-2021)
Through the middle of his career, Rovelo became one of the most reliable winners in the NASCAR Mexico Series. According to series records, he accumulated 26 wins, 119 top-ten finishes, and 7 poles across his time in the series. His victory total places him among the most successful drivers in the championship’s modern era.
The peak of his Mexico Series career came in 2020, when Rovelo captured the series championship, finishing first in the final standings. He continued winning after the title, with his last Mexico Series victory coming in 2021 at San Luis Potosí 2. His final start in the series came at the 2024 SpeedFest/La Gran Final at Mexico City.
Joey Gase Motorsports Era (2025-Present)
On June 10, 2025, it was announced that Rovelo would attempt to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut for his hometown race in Mexico City, driving the No. 35 Chevrolet for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen. The opportunity was a milestone moment, bringing a Mexican champion to a NASCAR national series event on home soil.
Rovelo’s debut ended in 37th place after a broken track bar affected his car following the first stage. Despite the result, the run represented a significant step in his career and underlined the relationship between Joey Gase Motorsports and international drivers seeking opportunities in NASCAR’s national series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rovelo has built his reputation on consistency and versatility. His 119 top-ten finishes in the NASCAR Mexico Series demonstrate an ability to collect points week after week, while his 26 wins show that he can also close out races when in position. The combination of road course and oval-track work in Mexico, paired with his U.S. oval experience, has given him a well-rounded skill set for stock car competition.
Notable Races and Milestones
Key milestones in Rovelo’s career include his first NASCAR Mexico Series win at Guadalajara in 2008, his 2020 series championship, and his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at the 2025 Mexico City event. The Mexico City race, in particular, was a career-defining moment as it brought him full circle from a local talent to a national series competitor on his home track.
Rubén Rovelo Career Wins
Across his career, Rovelo has accumulated 26 documented victories in the NASCAR Mexico Series, along with additional top-ten and pole-count success. He is a series champion, and his win total places him among the more accomplished drivers in the championship’s history.
NASCAR Mexico Series Highlights
Rovelo’s first NASCAR Mexico Series win came at Guadalajara in 2008, the same year he made his series debut at Queretaro. His most recent victory in the series came in 2021 at San Luis Potosí 2, and he closed out his full-time Mexico Series run with a 12th-place finish in the 2024 standings. His 2020 championship remains the headline achievement of his career in the series.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of his Mexico Series championship program, Rovelo’s only documented stock car starts in the United States came in 2010 in the ARCA Menards Series East, where he recorded one top-ten finish and a best series result of 25th. Regional and road course titles are not documented in the available records.
Rubén Rovelo Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly verified information about Rovelo’s parents and extended family is limited. No documented racing lineage has been confirmed in available sources.
Personal Life
Verified personal-life details for Rubén Rovelo, including marital status, spouse, and children, are not publicly documented in the available sources. He is known to have been born in Mexico City, Mexico, and has continued to be associated with that city throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Rubén Rovelo’s entry into NASCAR national series competition. On June 10, 2025, he was announced as the driver of the No. 35 Chevrolet for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen for the Xfinity Series race at Mexico City. The start was his first in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and represented a long-awaited opportunity at the top level of the sport.
His Mexico City run ended in 37th place after a broken track bar hampered the car following the first stage. Although the result did not produce a strong finishing position, the event itself was a milestone for Rovelo and for the Mexico City market, pairing a Mexican champion with a NASCAR national series entry on home soil.
Looking ahead, the Mexico City appearance signals continued interest from Joey Gase Motorsports in expanding its international driver lineup. For Rovelo, the focus now turns to building on the experience and exploring additional national series opportunities going forward.
