The Post Race Inspection - 2025 Viva Mexico 250 in Mexico City

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

By Adam Carabine & Logan Morris

Logan Morris: Hey Adam! We’re back after a wet and wild road course in Mexico City. SVG picked up his second career win in dominating fashion. 

Adam Carabine: Hola, Logan! What a weekend it was down in Mexico City. Shane Van Gisbergen locks himself into the playoffs with this win, which throws a bit of a wrench into the cutline and those around it! What did you think of the race? 

LM: I liked it. However, I didn’t love it. The chaos was fun, but there were times when the beating and banging was giving me rain-soaked COTA vibes. Some guys get their car destroyed due to the conditions and not the actual on-track action, and that always is a double-edged sword.  What did you think?

AC: I enjoyed the race a lot, actually.  Even though SVG wound up winning by a mile, it wasn’t entirely a sure-thing from the start.  Various strategies about which tires to put on (rain, or slicks), and then navigating the quickly-changing course as it dried out - I found it quite entertaining!  I don’t have a problem with the rain-related beating and banging.  I think that’s part of road course racing. We have rain tires available at road courses, and if you can’t handle it, that’s your own fault.  Yes, we saw a veteran in Kyle Busch lose control of his car in the rain (and end his own day as a result), but that’s the nature (get it?) of potentially racing in rain, and I would say it’s on Kyle Busch to not push so hard in that moment.

LM: I did enjoy the various strategies, I must admit. I thought it was fascinating to watch play out, but I don't understand why the road courses tend to have those devolving moments of beating and banging like it’s a short-track Saturday night. It’s just two different types of racing.  

AC: I think part of the reason you’re seeing that is because a lot of these road courses don’t have a ton of real estate for the drivers to maneuver through.  At Talladega you could probably run 5 wide around the entire track (not recommended, by the way), and there would be enough room for everyone.  At these road courses, sometimes two-wide is pushing it.  So in order to get any sort of passing done, you have to be aggressive.

We need to shout out the amazing NASCAR fans down in Mexico, though.  Did you see these videos of drivers being mobbed by fans, needing a huge security detail just to walk through the throngs of people? That’s awesome, and the enthusiasm is something we don’t tend to see up in the USA as often.  It seemed like a solid turnout at the track.  Despite some logistical issues the teams all had, I would classify this past weekend as a success for NASCAR - would you agree?

LM: I would agree it was a success. The fans absolutely brought it in a big way. They made the drivers look like full-fledged celebs. They were getting mobbed like it was TMZ. The local fans loved it.  

AC: NASCAR hasn’t officially said they’re coming back to the track, but I would be happy to see them return.  I also would be okay with a trip north of the border to Montreal, too! 

Getting back to the race itself, we saw some more Carson Hocevar-related carnage, and it looks like he and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. might be shaping up for a full-on fist fight.  Thoughts on Hocevar and the state of his reputation in the garage?

LM: I would be more than happy to see them return to Mexico in 2027. However, I don’t want them to go back next season. The novelty would fade fast. As far as Hocevar goes, it's clear that until some of the stature of Mr. H says something, nothing will change. Carson is dug in, and it shows.  Maybe a good old-fashioned trip to the woodshed would fix it?

AC: Aside from this past race in Mexico City, he’s been getting results too, which I imagine makes it hard for him to want to change his ways.  This is part of the learning process for younger drivers, and Hocevar will get there eventually.  It’s a fine line, because there’s part of me that doesn’t want him to lose that edge, but he’s also in line to get a few punches thrown at him from Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and I’m not sure there are any other drivers in the series who would oppose that right now.  He’ll need to be more careful.

Anything else before we get to the awards?

LM: Let’s get to those awards!

Best Performer

LM: My best performer for the week has to be SVG. He stunk up the show, especially in the final stage. I mean the drubbing he put on was incredible. 

AC: It’s hard to pick anyone else other than him. At one point, he was on old tires and still beating the second-placed driver by over a second a lap.  That’s insane.  This guy is a freak on road courses, and while he hasn’t always had the best luck on them, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins another one in the next few races.

Biggest Move of the Race

LM: My biggest move of the race has to be the caution that may have cost Ty Gibbs a chance at his first career win. He is stacking up some momentum in recent weeks.

AC: The biggest move for me was when SVG and his team thought they maybe had a loose wheel, went back and checked the tapes, and gambled on things being okay.  SVG stayed out, the tire turned out to be okay, and he won the race.  That’s a heck of a gamble.

Also shoutout to Riley Herbst’s spotter telling him it was okay to turn in front of a full-speed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after a spin.  Whew that was a close one.

Biggest Disappointment

LM: My biggest disappointment goes to A.J. Allmendinger. These are the types of tracks he thrives and you didn’t really see that this week. He’ll be itching to get in the conversation in the weeks to come. 

AC:  Without wanting to seem like too much of a homer, I’m going to have to go with Tyler Reddick.  Once touted as possibly the next road course king, Reddick struggled all day and ran around in about 20th.  I would have liked to have seen more from him at a road course.

What to Watch for Next Weekend

LM:  We’re off to the tricky triangle. Pocono is known for fuel mileage, but that can be hard to get into in this era. 

AC: Pocono hasn’t always put on the best show, but it’s a unique track that requires a lot of finesse.  Denny Hamlin is one to watch here, and he’s coming off an off-week with the birth of his son.  He could technically go for back-to-back wins if you count his last race as Michigan.  Regardless, I look forward to it!

LM: Let’s get Tricky!