NASCAR commissioner offers update on Brazil plans

On June 15, the NASCAR will make historical past. For the primary time within the trendy period of the Cup Collection, a factors race will happen outdoors the borders of the USA as they head to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico Metropolis.

Just lately, NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps got here to Brazil in the course of the NASCAR Brazil spherical at Interlagos, in his first ‘worldwide’ engagement after the promotion.

In the course of the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend, the Motorsport.com crew was on website for the crown jewel occasion and was welcomed by each Commissioner Phelps and in addition Chad Seigler, the Chief Worldwide Officer and VP of NASCAR. Phelps commented on the latest Brazil go to and the nation’s possibilities of emulating what NASCAR is doing with a Cup race in Mexico this 12 months.

 When requested about Brazil’s possibilities, Phelps did not draw back from answering: “I do not know after we’ll get to Brazil,” he admitted. “I might prefer to see it occur. Clearly, we’d like all events to come back collectively and perceive how necessary that might be for NASCAR on the whole and for the class. However I personally can be very enthusiastic about it.”

There have been beforehand talks to get ‘The Conflict’ to Brazil, however these talks by no means superior and the race will stay at Bowman Grey Stadium for 2026. Phelps can also be wanting ahead to the Mexican occasion that takes place later this month, which would be the first time the Cup Collection has ever raced in Mexico.

“I am excited. It is the primary time we have taken the Cup Collection within the trendy period outdoors our personal borders. It is a huge stage for us, and we’d like to ensure we make it. I feel the Mexican followers are going to come back, they are going to assist us, and I feel it will be an amazing present. Our drivers will love the circuit, and perhaps, who is aware of, we will have our drivers, in some unspecified time in the future, come to Brazil and have a race in São Paulo.”

Brazilian driver in Cup

Helio Castroneves, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures

The potential for a Cup Collection race in Brazil nonetheless exists, however what about Brazilian expertise coming to the USA – and vice versa? NASCAR already has two worldwide Cup drivers thanks Trackhouse Racing.

“We now have a driver who’s from Mexico, Daniel Suarez, and that is an amazing victory for us. Not by our driver improvement program, (however) we even have Shane Van Gisbergen from New Zealand (who) used to race in Australia. We would prefer to have drivers from everywhere in the world coming to race with us, in our three nationwide classes, however specifically in our foremost class, like what Daniel and SVG are doing.”

“We would prefer to have a Brazilian come out of NASCAR Brazil, come and race with us full-time, and, you recognize, compete for wins and championships. So we’re enthusiastic about this prospect, I used to be very impressed with the variety of drivers I noticed and how briskly they had been and their skills, and we’re enthusiastic about this taking place sooner or later.”

NASCAR Brazil

NASCAR Brazil

Seigler additionally commented on the present standing of NASCAR Brazil and the optimism collection officers have concerning the Brazilian class.

“I personally assume we’re exceeding expectations of the place we thought we’d be,” stated Seigler. “You can see final weekend at Interlagos the followers, the thrill. You can hear this week the thrill when overtaking was completed. You may see that the followers are getting used to our fashion of racing.”

Additionally concerning the possibilities of a Brazilian driver competing in the USA, Seigler made some extent of recalling the latest feat of Gabriel Casagrande, who received a race at New Smyrna in his first expertise on a US oval and with a Late Mannequin. Casagrande can also be a three-time Inventory Automobile Brazil champion, successful three of the final 4 titles.

“I noticed what Gabriel did when he got here to Florida a couple of weeks in the past. He actually simply confirmed how proficient Brazilian drivers are. It is a man who’s by no means been on an oval circuit, by no means been in a Late Mannequin. He got here to the USA, was quick in observe, received a race and that is one of many issues about Brazil that catches our eye.”

“We all know the historical past of the drivers and we all know their improvement and I feel the place we see it, there’s this nice alternative and I do know lots of people discuss what we did in Mexico with Daniel Suárez. After we can do one thing like that in Brazil, it can assist us.”

“It is going to be a two-way road. One, it will assist make the class in Brazil much more well-liked for drivers who can see that technique to the US in the event that they need to. After which, it is also going to make that Brazilian fan have somebody to cheer for in the USA. So the motive force improvement half is crucial for us sooner or later,” he concluded.

Ex-F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. is the one Brazilian to win within the three nationwide ranges of NASCAR, successful as soon as within the Xfinity Collection and twice within the Truck Collection. This 12 months, four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves made his Cup debut within the Daytona 500, however his evening ended with an early wreck. He’s the one Brazilian driver to have run a race at any of the three nationwide ranges this 12 months.