NASCAR Live Race Updates: Viva Mexico 250 at Mexico City
Welcome to the Racing America On SI Live Race Updates page for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.
Be sure to refresh this post throughout Sunday's event as the Live Race Updates story will be updated regularly with the biggest moments from the 242-mile race around the 2.42-mile road course, including lead changes, crash replays, the winner of the race, finishing results, and more.
Final Stage Updates
Lap 100: Shane Van Gisbergen Cruises to Career Win No. 2
Shane van Gisbergen is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner as he flat-out pulled away from Christopher Bell and the rest of the 37-car field in the final Stage of Sunday's Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to score an emphatic victory.
Viva Mexico 250 Results:
Fin | Car | Driver | Laps | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 88 | Shane van Gisbergen # | 100 | -- |
2 | 20 | Christopher Bell | 100 | 16.567 |
3 | 9 | Chase Elliott | 100 | 20.635 |
4 | 48 | Alex Bowman | 100 | 25.242 |
5 | 71 | Michael McDowell | 100 | 27.619 |
6 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | 100 | 30.125 |
7 | 19 | Chase Briscoe | 100 | 33.291 |
8 | 41 | Cole Custer | 100 | 35.754 |
9 | 24 | William Byron | 100 | 36.562 |
10 | 17 | Chris Buescher | 100 | 38.551 |
Lap 95: All Shane van Gisbergen Right Now
With just five laps to go, Shane van Gisbergen looks to be heading to a certain win, barring a late-race caution. SVG is up to a 12.222 second lead over Christopher Bell.
Top-10 with five laps to go:
1. Shane van Gisbergen
2. Christopher Bell
3. Chase Elliott
4. Alex Bowman
5. John Hunter Nemechek
6. Michael McDowell
7. Cole Custer
8. Chase Briscoe
9. Chris Buescher
10. Ryan Blaney
Lap 90: Hocevar Spins Stenhouse and Himself
Carson Hocevar got into a turn too hot, and collided with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., which spun both drivers out.
Lap 86: Bell Moves to P2
Christopher Bell prevailed in a hard-fought battle against Alex Bowman for the runner-up spot. Bell now sits 4.988 seconds behind Shane van Gisbergen with 14 laps to go.
Lap 73: Herbst Spun From 13th
William Byron spun Riley Herbst from the 13th position, and then as he attempted to blend back onto the track, he nearly got smoked by Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Lap 73: Bowman and Berry Collide
Austin Dillon got turned by Joey Logano in the stadium portion of the track, and as he sat motionless in the middle of the track, Josh Berry t-boned him. Berry forunately got nearly stopped before colliding with Dillon.
Lap 70: Alex Bowman Applying Pressure for Lead
Shane van Gisbergen outdueled Christopher Bell for the lead on the restart, and Alex Bowman followed through to second. However, Bowman has not gone away. Bowman is starting to apply a little bit of pressure to SVG for the win.
Lap 69: Back to Green!
Shane van Gisbergen and Christopher Bell are fighting for the lead with 32 laps to go in the Viva Mexico 250. They are side-by-side going into Turn 1, and SVG prevails. Alex Bowman moves into the second spot as Ryan Truex gets turned sideways in the scrum in the middle of the pack, and all sorts of cars are going through the grass to get around it all.
We stay green.
SVG now leads Bowman, Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe, and Ty Gibbs.
Lap 65: Caution
Carson Hocevar has spun in Turn 15, and that has put us back under caution. With Ty Gibbs, Michael McDowell, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott and others yet to make their final pit stop, they will be mired behind those that have already pitted.
Lap 63: SVG Pits From Lead
Shane van Gisbergen brings his No. 88 Chevrolet to pit road, and he has a 15 second pit stop as they had to holf him for maximum fuel.
Lap 62: Bell First to Pit Road
Christopher Bell, currently running second, hits pit road on Lap 62 for what should be his final pit stop of the race. He's looking to gain time on Shane van Gisbergen on this green flag pit cycle.
Lap 54: Truex Spins Again
Ryan Truex got contact from Ross Chastain on Lap 54, and it sent Truex for another spin. This time, Truex backed into the barriers, but he was able to get back going.
Lap 52: SVG Scrubs Past Bell for Lead
Shane van Gisbergen rubbed sides with Christopher Bell in Turn 15, and took the lead from the Joe Gibbs Racing driver heading to the finish line on Lap 52.
Lap 52: Stenhouse Spins
The intensity has certainly ratcheted up as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is the latest driver to go for a spin on Lap 52. Stenhouse had help from Brad Keselowski.
Lap 50: Chastain Gets Turned
Ross Chastain got spun while running around seventh or eighth on Lap 50. Chastain now runs 30th.
Lap 50: Back to Green!
The green flag is back out, and Shane van Gisbergen is fighting hard with Christopher Bell for the race lead. Down the frontstretch, Bell had a slight advantage, but SVG locked his brakes up in Turn 1. SVG and Bell are still fighting for the lead, and Bell actually takes the lead.
Stage 2 Updates
Lap 45: Shane Van Gisbergen Wins Stage 2
Shane van Gisbergen will pocket 10 Stage Points and a Playoff Point after scoring the Stage 2 win with ease ove Christopher Bell.
Viva Mexico 250 Stage 2 Results
Fin | Car | Driver | Stage Points | Playoff Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 88 | Shane van Gisbergen # | 10 | 1 |
2 | 20 | Christopher Bell | 9 | -- |
3 | 48 | Alex Bowman | 8 | -- |
4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | 7 | -- |
5 | 71 | Michael McDowell | 6 | -- |
6 | 3 | Austin Dillon | 5 | -- |
7 | 17 | Chris Buescher | 4 | -- |
8 | 35 | Riley Herbst # | 3 | -- |
9 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | 2 | -- |
10 | 99 | Daniel Suarez | 1 | -- |
Lap 43: Shane Van Gisbergen All Over Ty Gibbs for Lead
With three laps left in Stage 2, Shane van Gisbergen is applying all sorts of pressure to Ty Gibbs for the race lead. As they come off of Turn 15, Gibbs peels off the track for pit road, while SVG stays on the track.
SVG will likely win the Stage, while Gibbs will gain the advantage of better track position to start the final Stage of the race.
Lap 42: Austin Cindric Makes First Pit Stop
Austin Cindric nearly made it to the halfway point of Sunday's 100-lap Viva Mexico 250 before pitting, but on Lap 42, he finally made his first stop.
Lap 39: Erik Jones Cuts Tire
Erik Jones makes an unscheduled pit stop for a cut down left front tire. Jones scored points in Stage 1, but will likely have to rely on setting himself up for a good overall finish to have a good points day following the cut tire in Stage 2.
Lap 35: Back to Green!
We're back to green, and the race for the lead is on between Ty Gibbs and Shane van Gisbergen. Gibbs prevails heading into the esses.
Lap 32: Caution
Ryan Truex, who is filling in for Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, has gone for a spin, which brings the caution out. Truex was running inside the top-25, but has dropped to 31st.
The caution is out on Lap 32 for this spin by @Ryan_Truex. pic.twitter.com/xf1qDzfYBr
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 15, 2025
Lap 30: Stenhouse Pits for Slicks
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has finally gone to pit road to swap his wet weather tires for slicks.
Lap 29: McDowell, Suarez Pit for Slicks
Michael McDowell and Daniel Suarez came to pit road on Lap 29 for slick tires. The only driver on the track still running on wet weather tires is Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Austin Cindric (3rd) has yet to pit and is still using his original set of slick tires, he'll have to pit soon for fuel.
Ty Gibbs currently leads Shane van Gisbergen by 2.025 seconds.
Lap 28: Gilliland Spins in Turn 15
Todd Gilliland got spun with help from Ryan Preece and Chase Elliott in Turn 15 on Lap 28. Gilliland drops from 16th to 31st due to the spin.
Lap 25/26: Nemechek, Gragson Go For Spins
Noah Gragson spun out on the first lap of green flag racing on Lap 25, and a lap later, John Hunter Nemechek went for a spin after contact from Tyler Reddick.
Gragson runs 30th on Lap 26, while Nemechek now runs 32nd.
Lap 25: Back to Green!
We're back to green. Michael McDowell led the field to the green flag, but Daniel Suarez worked his way around McDowell for the race lead early in the lap.
It's @Daniel_SuarezG to the lead on the restart! #NASCARMexico pic.twitter.com/R7JQ15QiV1
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 15, 2025
Now, Suarez is side-by-side in the stadium portion of the track for the lead. Gibbs prevails for the lead.
"Not so fast," says @TyGibbs! pic.twitter.com/eTs8RZgvrS
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 15, 2025
Suarez is now fighting Shane van Gisbergen for the second spot.
Lap 22: Preece Wins Race Off Pit Road; 19 Drivers Stay Out
Ryan Preece, the Stage 1 winner, won the race off pit road under this caution, but will restart 20th after the top-19 drivers stayed on the track.
Michael McDowell will restart as the leader, and he'll be joined by Carson Hocevar, Daniel Suarez, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Shane van Gisbergen.
Stage 1 Updates
Lap 20: Ryan Preece Takes Stage 1 Win
Ryan Blaney caught Ryan Preece, but Preece was able to hold him off for the Stage 1 win in Sunday's Viva Mexico 250.
Shane van Gisbergen (16th) is the highest-running of the drivers that pitted for slick tires before the end of Stage 1.
Viva Mexico 250 Stage 1 Results
Fin | Car | Driver | Stage Points | Playoff Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 60 | Ryan Preece | 10 | 1 |
2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | 9 | -- |
3 | 1 | Ross Chastain | 8 | -- |
4 | 71 | Michael McDowell | 7 | -- |
5 | 34 | Todd Gilliland | 6 | -- |
6 | 43 | Erik Jones | 5 | -- |
7 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | 4 | -- |
8 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 3 | -- |
9 | 9 | Chase Elliott | 2 | -- |
10 | 99 | Daniel Suarez | 1 | -- |
Lap 18: A Slew of Drivers Pit For Slicks
Bell's pit stop triggered the majority of the field hitting pit road for slick tires. Ryan Preece, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain, Michael McDowell and a few others have stayed out for Stage Points.
Lap 17: Christopher Bell Pits for Slicks
With the track continuing to dry out, Christopher Bell has hit pit road from the top-10 to grab slick tires. Shane van Gisbergen continues to lead Ty Gibbs, and SVG was told by his crew chief to remain on track as there looks to be more weather on the way.
Lap 14: Rain Has Stopped
The rain has stopped, and the track has begun to dry out some. There is a long way to go, but Austin Cindric remains the only driver still on slick tires, and he could start climbing the rankings if this dries out. Currently, he's 31st.
Lap 9: Back to Green!
We go back to green, and Ty Gibbs leads the field, but he gets overtaken by Shane van Gisbergen, who is back to the lead of this race after leading the opening two laps.
Here are th etop-10 at Lap 10:
1. Shane van Gisbergen
2. Ty Gibbs
3. Ross Chastain
4. Ryan Preece
5. Daniel Suarez
6. Ty Dillon
7. Michael McDowell
8. Christopher Bell
9. Erik Jones
10. Todd Gilliland
Lap 6: Caution No. 2
Kyle Busch entered Turn 1 too deep and lost control of his No. 8 Chevrolet. Busch spun into the rear of Justin Haley's No. 7 Chevrolet, and collected Kyle Larson, Zane Smith, and AJ Allmendinger as well. Wild incident in the wet.
Here's the incident, where it looked like Kyle Busch got into Turn 1 too hot, and lost control. He spun into the rear of Justin Haley's car, and collected AJ Allmendinger, Kyle Larson, and Zane Smith. pic.twitter.com/hO1rny2r1N
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) June 15, 2025
Lap 4: Back to Green!
Austin Cindric blasts to the lead on the slick tires on this restart as Chris Buescher fades. However, once they reach some turns, Cindric slides off line, and Ty Gibbs heads to the lead. Ryan Preece, Ross Chastain, all get around Cindric.
Lap 2: Ross Chastain Wins Race Off Pit Road
Ross Chastain defeated Shane van Gisbergen off of pit road as the majority of the field changed to the wet weather tires. However, Chris Buescher and Austin Cindric stayed on track and will likely restart 1-2 on slick tires.
Lap 1: Caution for Rain
Heavier rain started falling in the stadium portion of the track as the field was approaching it on Lap 1, and we are under caution for the first time in this race. NASCAR may elect to have the teams switch to wet-weather tires.
3:27 PM ET: GREEN FLAG!
It has begun sprinkling around the 2.42-mile Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, but pole winner Shane van Gisbergen told NASCAR the track is safe to run on dry tires, and we have gone green.
SVG leads the field into Turn 1, and Ross Chastain has settled into the runner-up spot.
Pre-Race Updates
Jeff Gordon Delivers Command to Start Engines!
After an excellent bilingual edition of the command to start engines, Jeff Gordon has commanded the engines to fire prior to the start of Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250. The 37 cars that will compete on Sunday have all come to life.
.@JeffGordonWeb with the command! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lv2ODaZuOo
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 15, 2025
Before Gordon belted out the most famous words in racing, the American and Mexican National Anthems were performed.
🇺🇸🇲🇽🏁 pic.twitter.com/IDJNnAcAiN
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 15, 2025
Weather Could Play A Factor
While the weather forecast for Sunday's Viva Mexico 250 is much better than anticipated heading into the race weekend, the chances for rain increase throughout the afternoon at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
At 3 PM ET, there is a 49% chance, and the probability of rain increases to 61% by 5 PM ET.
Goodyear does have the wet weather tires on hand, and teams will be able to utilize them in damp track conditions, but will not be allowed to use them if it is heavily raining. Whoever is able to handle the 2.42-mile course best in damp conditions could be the one that ends up winning Sunday's race.
Another unique aspect to Sunday's race will be the altitude of Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which sits at 7,315 feet above sea level. The second-highest altitude event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which is at 1,957 feet above sea level.
Higher elevation will equal a drop in engine performance due to thinner air at higher altitude.
Over the course of the 242 miles on Sunday, engines could find themselves overheating, and it could become a test of machine. However, it'll also be a test of the drivers competing on Sunday as well as human body performance also drops in higher altitude.
Who will be able to handle the physical side of things the best? We'll find out on Sunday.
NASCAR Reveals Official Timeline of Viva Mexico 250 Pre-Race Festivities
- 3:01 PM ET: Invocation
- 3:03 PM ET: American National Anthem
- 3:04 PM ET: Mexican National Anthem
- 3:13 PM ET: Command to Start Engines
- 3:24 PM ET: Green Flag
Viva Mexico 250 Pre-Race Info
The Viva Mexico 250 will be televised on Prime Video, the fourth of five NASCAR Cup Series races to be covered by the streaming service this season. The Prime Video pre-race show will begin at 2:00 PM ET, and the official race broadcast will kick off on Prime Video at 3:00 PM ET.
The Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide the radio broadcast of Sunday's race. For subscribers of the Max streaming service, NASCAR Driver Cam, which streams live in-car camera footage from every car in the field, will be available for today's race.
The overall race purse, which teams will fight for their portion of in Sunday's race is a total of $12,561,250.
The race distance is 100 laps around the 2.42-mile road course, which equates to a 242-mile race distance.
The Viva Mexico 250 will be broken up into three Stages. Stage 1 will end at the conclusion of Lap 20. Stage 2 will end at the conclusion of Lap 45. And the race is scheduled to finish at the end of Lap 100, barring an Overtime finish.
The winner of Stages 1 and 2 will be awarded one Playoff Point, and the overall race winner will be awarded five Playoff Points. The Playoff Points will be added to the reseeded point totals if the drivers make it into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, and will be carried through each round of the Playoffs.
This is the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Shane Van Gisbergen Takes Second Career NASCAR Cup Pole as Rain Shortens Qualifying Session
Shane van Gisbergen will lead the field to the green flag in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 after the Rookie of the Year contender secured the pole in Saturday's qualifying session with a 92.776-second (93.904 mph) lap around the 2.42-mile road course.
Rain came with about 17 minutes remaining in the session, which forced an early end to qualifying.
"That's awesome," Van Gisbergen said after learning he had secured the pole position. "What a really cool achievement for us. Great starting spot for tomorrow. Yeah, I'm excited, that's really cool."
SVG was able to top Ryan Preece by a thin margin of 0.064 seconds for the pole position.
Viva Mexico 250 Starting Lineup
Click here for the full official Viva Mexico 250 starting lineup.
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Toby Christie is the Editor-in-Chief of Racing America. He has 15 years of experience as a motorsports journalist and has been with Racing America since 2023.
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