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Bubba Wallace's Surprising Reaction To NASCAR's Future Race Announcements

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Feb 24, 2025 6:16 PM ET

NASCAR will travel beyond the United States to host a Cup Series race at Mexico City. Bubba Wallace isn't counting down the days to the historic June 15 event.

Later this year, NASCAR will hold its first international Cup Series points race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. While the sport is eager to magnify its fanbase, Wallace is going about business as usual to start the 2025 season.

Appearing on the Rubbin is Racing podcast alongside Chase Elliott earlier this month, the drivers were asked if anything excites them about the upcoming season. Wallace called the Mexico City race "unique" but said he's treating this year as "just another season"

Asked if he's "pumped" for the Mexico race, Wallace said it "takes a lot" to get him excited. He had a neutral reaction to the Mexico City announcement, but he admitted he initially wasn't enamored by another new race.

"I think it will get more exciting when we get there," Wallace said. "I will say, when they announced Mexico it was like, 'OK, cool.' When we announced Chicago, I was like, 'Oh s---' and came into this deal like, I hope it fails."

Wallace, who recorded the interview at a Chicago studio, said he's come to enjoy the new Chicago Street Race. The 23XI Racing driver hosted block parties in the Windy City in each of the last two years.

"It's a good time," Wallace said of NASCAR's Chicago event. "It's a really good time. And I think I've told NASCAR, 'Hey, good job. This is cool.' So, hopefully, Mexico is the same way."

Elliott expressed a bit more enthusiasm about NASCAR crossing the United States border. He considers the Mexico race a "stepping stone" for additional global expansion.

"I really do think the Mexico City thing has potential, but I guess I'm not as excited for the Mexico City race itself as I am for what that could potentially open up for us to leave the country and potentially grow that way," Elliott said. "I think the race has potential to be great, but I'm just excited that there's enough willingness to leave the states."

Since that interview, Wallace has opened the season by placing 29th at the Daytona 500 and ninth at the Ambetter Health 400. He'll set his sights on Sunday's EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix stock race in Texas.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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