NASCAR now has regular competing series in Canada, Europe, Mexico and most recently added one in Brazil. It has seen a growing number of international drivers compete in its American-based national series, both as regular competitors and part-time ventures.
Never before in the modern era of NASCAR has it held a points-paying race of the premier Cup series outside the continental United States, but that day seems to be drawing ever-closer.
NASCAR vice president and chief international officer Chad Seigler told Autosport: “For years we said we want to go outside the US and race, and you’ve seen us move from the messaging of it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when.
“I would tell you that we’re leaning even closer now to, ‘Yes, we are going.’ I feel confident we’re going to be there sooner than later.”
NASCAR has held races outside the US borders before. The Truck Series has held races in Canada in the past and what is now the Xfinity Series has run points-paying races in both Montreal and Mexico City.
The Cup series’ only recent international experience, however, was a series of non-points exhibitions run in Japan between 1996 and 1998, as well as one in Australia in 1988.
Two points-paying races were held in the Cup Series in Canada in the 1950s; one in 1952 at Samford Park in Ontario and one in 1958 at Canadian Exposition Stadium in Toronto.
There are even more reasons for NASCAR’s optimism the timing is right to hold a Cup race outside the U.S. as part of its regular schedule of events.
NASCAR’s Garage 56 entry in last year’s Le Mans 24 Hours well-received by fans, its NASCAR Whelen Euro Series events are commanding large crowds, and it gained a big spotlight when three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen won last year’s inaugural Chicago street race on his debut.
Source: Autosport