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NASCAR / NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Debut At Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez; Helio Meza Earns Mexico Series Win

NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Debut At Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez; Helio Meza Earns Mexico Series Win

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
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For the first time in modern era history, NASCAR Cup Series drivers participated in Friday’s two practice sessions at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. 

Austin Cindric and Noah Gragson showed their inexperience during the first practice session by overshooting their braking point along Turn 4 and hitting the wall at nearly the identical spot. 

With a lap clocked at 94.024 seconds, Michael McDowell paced the 50-minute practice session at the 15-turn, 2.42-mile road course. 

Todd Gilliland claimed the Practice 2 title by navigating the course at 93.181 mph, edging Ross Chastain (93.041 mph) and Ty Gibbs (92.865). 

Ryan Truex (90.946), who will sub for new father Denny Hamlin during Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250, ranked 36th in the Practice 1 37-car field. Katherine Legge placed last. 

Cup Series qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 12:10 p.m. ET. 

Along with several associates from a few teams, Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen endured travel problems Thursday, delaying his arrival for the international event. Some teams were short on pit crew during the two practice sessions.  

“Yeah, it wasn’t real fun,” van Gisbergen said, as reported by The Associated Press. “Yesterday was a long day.”   

Helio Meza Clams NASCAR Mexico Series Event Title 

Opening up the weekend’s festivities at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, drivers for the NASCAR Mexico Series competed in Friday’s Ricardo Rodriguez 120. 

Helio Meza held off Victor Barrales Jr. to secure his second straight win. 

Meza said he did what he had to do to block Barrales on the final lap. 

“This was what we needed to get a victory at a circuit as beautiful as this,” Meza said, as reported by NASCAR Mexico Series’ website. “Now everything is focused on the playoffs and getting the championship, as well as winning tomorrow’s race as well. Since qualifying, we had shown that we were ready for very good things, although on the last lap the victory got out of hand.” 

Ricardo Rodriguez 120 Top-Five Results 

Driver, Time

  • 1, Helio Meza, 1:30:14.554 
  • 2, Victor Barrales Jr., 1:30:23.651 
  • 3, Jorge de la Parra, 1:30:25.577 
  • 4, Santos Zanella Jr., 1:30:29.282 
  • 5, Esteban Rodriguez, 1:30:29.365

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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