Kyle Petty shouts NASCAR vs. F1 hot take following Mexico City race

Formula One is recognized as the most popular motorsport internationally. In the United States, NASCAR reigns supreme.

While NASCAR may never reach the heights internationally as Formula One, this past week was a step in the right direction. NASCAR held its Cup Series and Xfinity Series races at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. Mexico’s own Daniel Suárez won the Xfinity race, while New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen was dominant in taking the checkered flag in the Cup race.

Does that mean NASCAR is now international? “You bet your bottom dollar it does,” Kyle Petty said Monday.

Kyle Petty: ‘I loved’ NASCAR race in Mexico

“I loved this race in Mexico. It was a historic event. I don’t care what anybody says about it. I don’t care about the complainers, the whiners, get out of town. This was a historic event for NASCAR,” Petty said. “It took us to a city of 9.5 million people. It took us to another country and exposed us to fans who maybe knew what our sport was but had never seen it. Now, they know what it is. Thanks to Daniel Suárez, everyone knew in Mexico what our sport was. What a great day for Daniel and a great day for Mexico. He carried an entire country on his back to Victory Lane in the Xfinity race.

“We switch to the Cup side. Shane van Gisbergen — he wins the race. He’s from New Zealand and he wins in Mexico in a NASCAR race which is an American sport. Does that make us international? You bet your bottom dollar it does, and I think we’re going to see more of it. We may never be Formula One, and I don’t want to be Formula One. But I think at some point in time, they’ll be a handful of races outside the United States. We’ve already had foreign drivers win here. Mario Andretti, Earl Ross, Juan Pablo Montoya, Daniel Suárez, Marcos Ambrose and now, Shane van Gisbergen.”

Kyle Petty calls for NASCAR to take Cup Series across the globe

NASCAR wants to expand its footprint across the globe. That is clear, though it’s yet to be decided if NASCAR will return to Mexico City in 2026. Petty believes not only should NASCAR head back to Mexico City but entertain hosting a race across the pond.

That would be well in line with how Formula One operates. Formula One’s schedule includes trips to the U.S., Australia, Japan, France and Canada among other countries.

“When we bring that caliber of driver to our sport, it gives us international attention. When we take our sport to another country, that makes us international,” Petty said. “I’m sorry, that’s the definition. We are going to be an international sport. We already have fans all over the world. … Now that they know NASCAR in Mexico, we need to go back over and over again. And listen, I’m not above going across the pond. Let’s go there. Let’s show everybody what NASCAR Cup racing can be.”