| Starting in 2004, the Busch series held a race in | | | | Many of the team's sponsors, such as Lowe's and |
| Mexico City at the Autodromo Hermanos | | | | Red Bull, already have a strong presence in both |
| Rodriguez track. This year will be the third year | | | | Mexico and the United States. Racing in Mexico |
| that NASCAR has been south of the border. | | | | increases the sponsor's exposure. Several team |
| What would motivate them to pick up a venue | | | | owners have said that they wouldn't choose to |
| like that? | | | | race in Mexico because of the added expenses |
| In 2005, it was estimated that one seventh of | | | | but do so for their sponsors. |
| the population in the United States is Hispanic. This | | | | There was quite a lot of complaining when the |
| is a demographic that just hasn't been turned | | | | race was first announced. Besides the expense, |
| onto stock car racing in the past. Mexico City can | | | | people were concerned about the safety issues |
| change that. But there has definitely been some | | | | of being in Mexico. |
| resistance from the teams. | | | | Carl Edwards says he looks forward to the race |
| In the first Mexico City race, the prize money | | | | now but he was nervous about being in Mexico |
| was so little that most teams didn't break even. | | | | the first time, especially when he had to visit the |
| It's expensive for your whole team to travel and | | | | hospital due to a crash during a practice round. |
| especially expensive to transport the racecars. | | | | However, his short hospital stay was great and |
| Truthfully, for the first race, most teams made | | | | he considers this race an exciting trip now. |
| the race only because of the owner points which | | | | The idea behind having an international race is that |
| were awarded. Since that first race, the purse | | | | not only will it be a tool to hook Hispanics in the |
| has grown and teams are more likely to come | | | | U.S. on NASCAR but will also open up a whole |
| out having made at least some money. | | | | new audience of race fans in Mexico. So they are |
| Another reason that teams are traveling to the | | | | building a larger fan base two at a time. |
| race is for their sponsors. One of the main | | | | NASCAR is determined to branch out into all parts |
| rationales that the Mexico City race is considered | | | | of the world and become the most popular sport. |
| so important is because there are so many | | | | We think they are well on their way to doing just |
| international sponsors. | | | | that. |