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NASCAR will not return to Mexico City in Nationwide Series
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Sunday, July 27, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS – NASCAR, citing that it had accomplished its goal of establishing a national touring series (the NASCAR Corona Series) in Mexico, will end a four-year experiment and not bring the Nationwide Series to Mexico City in 2009.
The race likely will be replaced by a domestic event, NASCAR Vice President of Operations Steve O’Donnell said Sunday.
While the 2009 sanctioning process is not over yet in determining the schedule, O’Donnell and NASCAR Vice President of Broadcasting/International Managing Director Robbie Weiss confirmed that NASCAR will not complete a sanction agreement with promoter OCESA.
“Everybody sat back and looked at all the pieces and at what we were looking to accomplish and where we were at and everybody weighed in and [the decision not to return] went from there,” said Weiss, adding, “We moved this army down there for four years, which was not an easy effort.
“I don’t have to tell you guys what it takes to run the season as it is and certainly that event was a lot of work. We looked at the schedule this year and sat with OCESA and did a look-around at the [NASCAR Corona] series, and we are really proud of where we are.”
OCESA is the promoter of the NASCAR Corona Series and used the Nationwide event to promote the local series, which now includes 14 races at nine tracks throughout the country. Weiss said crowds and car counts are at capacity for the Corona Series, and both OCESA and NASCAR should put all of their energy into the Corona Series.
“When we look at what we set out to do, we are now running by far the No. 1 and most significant national championship in the country – from a motorsports development process, we think that we have transitioned that market from an open-wheel market to a stock-car market in an amazing amount of time,” Weiss said. “We were coming in from the outside. We didn’t invent motorsports in Mexico. We brought stability. We brought structure.”
Attendance at the Nationwide race last April was significantly lower than that of the first year. NASCAR estimated the attendance at 94,229 for the first Mexico event in 2005, with attendance at 72,428 and 72,971 the next two years and then 57,324 in April.
“It was definitely a factor, but it’s not something that drove our decision making,” O’Donnell said. “The key was to build stock-car racing in Mexico. If we had 10,000 people in the stands and the [Mexican] tour wasn’t where we needed it to be, we would probably be [going back].”
Weiss said attendance figures weren’t necessarily indicative of general fan interest because many of the tickets were sold to companies and then distributed to customers or employees.
“It wasn’t just about a single event,” Weiss said. “The big idea and what we were attempting to do with them [at OCESA] was just really
strengthen the sport of motorsports in Mexico. … The idea came up [because] the NASCAR brand was somewhat really unknown in the market and in order to really make a lot of noise.”
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13 responses to "NASCAR will not return to Mexico City in Nationwide Series". Post a Comment.
John Lockhart said:
Jul 28, 2008 at 7:53 AMI really never liked the ideal of NASCAR in Mexico.NASCAR has always been a down home American sport.Let's keep it that way.
anonymous said:
Jul 28, 2008 at 8:47 AMGood decision. That's a far way to go and lots of time and money could be spent in the good old USA.
Frank Alford said:
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:37 AMI agree with it but yet the racing was good, I hope they move that race to one of the road coarses. Maybe to one of he ones that the Cup guys don't run at.
keith manning said:
Jul 28, 2008 at 3:33 PMNascar wants to break into the New york area market. Well there is a brand new Road corse in Southern NJ. The ARCA cars are raceing on it so why not Have the Nationwide series as well
Shari Prag said:
Jul 28, 2008 at 8:47 PMMexico is a long ways to go but guess what, so is Canada. Should they drop that too? Personally I'm not a fan of any road course so I would vote yes. They want to promote it as the Great American Sport? How about keeping it in America.
Mark Koop said:
Jul 29, 2008 at 1:22 AMShari, I think you need to look at a map. Montreal is closer to Charlotte than Texas,not to mention Phoenix, Las Vegas and California.
Elizabeth Schanz said:
Jul 29, 2008 at 5:21 AMThey should give a Nationwide race to Rockingham since it is all fixed up. ARCA races there, it is time to put NASCAR back to its roots.
Ashley said:
Jul 29, 2008 at 6:39 AMThe interest is obviously waning. NASCAR has made the right decision.
S Beau said:
Jul 29, 2008 at 9:47 AMTo think we lost Nazareth for Mexico to begin with.
Shari Prag said:
Jul 30, 2008 at 9:48 AMMark, I do know that Canada is closer than Mexico City however it is still a logistical nightmare for the teams to cross the border, any border. Given the fact that all traveling members require passports, all haulers are subject to inspection at the border crossings, etc. Plus some of the showcars are not allowed outside of the US territory. Take the NAVY as an example. Or better yet, how about the Border Patrol showcar? :)
Jonny Gardner said:
Jul 30, 2008 at 10:01 AMIlike having a race Mexico let NASCAR FOR THAT race for 3 years put back Pikes Peak Jonny Gardner
robert mcleester said:
Jul 30, 2008 at 8:21 PMi agree with elizabeth,a nationwide race at the rock would be awesome.
Aaron B said:
Jul 31, 2008 at 1:28 PMI hate Nascar racing in other countries. They should keep all the races in the U.SAnd I, too, think racing at the rock would be Awesome for the Nationwide Series. Plus Nascar needs to relize that these passports cost money. Unless Nascar gives some money to the teams for the passports, I say just leave Canada and Mexico.