NASCAR México Series Kicked-Off Their 2026 Campaign

The Mexican stock car series, NASCAR México Series, started their 10th season of his modern era visiting the Súper Óvalo Potosino; the first round of twelve, La Potosina 200 marked the start of new projects from teams and drivers and offered to the fans a great battle for the win.

NASCAR México in 2026 is set to be an unforgettable season: the field of drivers it’s the best the series has ever had.

As well as the US series, the Mexican divisions also adopted the Chase format.

La temporada 2026 está por comenzar y el "Chase" es el formato que nos ayudará a encontrar al nuevo campeón de NASCAR México Series🏆#NASCAR #NASCARMéxico #NASCARMx #NASCARSLP #ChaseNASCARMéxicoSeries pic.twitter.com/28VXzRUr53

— NASCAR MÉXICO SERIES (@NASCARMex) March 9, 2026

Rubén García Jr, 30, returned to the victory lane at the San Luis Potosí half-mile racetrack; Víctor Barrales Jr, 27, earned the win for the NASCAR Challenge Series.

Fuel Rules

The first Stage of the season was defined by the mandatory pit entry —every car is obliged for a fuel-only pit stop— that decided the order on the first 90 laps.

Mechanical issues affected the results for the first leaders: Julio Rejón, who started from pole position, suffered a battery failure and went to the back of the field; then Xavi Razo took the lead but his stock No. 7 also failed and abandoned the race.

When the pit sequence started, La Potosina 200 lead changed of hands: García Jr and Eloy Falcón fought for the top spot; later, Max Gutiérrez overtook José Luis Ramírez for the Stage win. The driver of the car No. 23 prevailed and was followed by Alex de Alba and Rodrigo Rejón (only the Top-3 get Stage points, 3-2-1, on each series).

NASCAR Challenge Series had an intense battle for the Stage win. Jorge de la Parra started from pole position but was outrun by the rookie Mateo Girón.

The pit stops also played a major factor on the Stage results. Santos Zanella Jr. earned the Stage win by staying out on track.

According to the rulebook from NASCAR México Series, at the end of Stage 1 every team has to make a mandatory pit stop where they had to change tires and can make car adjustments; they are not allowed to refuel. Positions are kept without changes (unless teams exceed the pit time limit).

Homecoming

Team GP Canel’s Racing —outfit based on San Luis Potosí— lead the second half of the race.

Gutierrez, driving the No. 23 machine, lead 40 laps but couldn't contain the rise of his teammate García Jr who took the top spot and earned his first official win since June 2024.

La Potosina 200 was supposed to complete 200 laps but, because of the race cautions, had to be cut to a timed finish (100 minutes of racing). The chequered flag was waved after 174 laps.

Rodrigo Rejón, driver of the car No. 95, had a great setup that let him be competitive on the outside lane and attempted to fight for the win with García Jr on the last restart; Falcón also used the outside to gain positions and managed to close the race 2nd. Rejón was 3rd.

“Last year was rough for the team and also for me.” reckoned the race winner and added: “When you’re a driver of this series, you reach this high level and run for Team GP, you’re expected to win every year.”

The tough battle in Challenge Series keep going on the second half of the race: this division registered eight lead changes between six cars.

Víctor Barrales Jr, driver from San Luis Potosí, improved his performance through the race, overcoming a hit and damage on the first half of the race. The pilot of the No. 39 car kept fighting and climbed in the order to reach the top spot.

On the last restart, Barrales Jr disputed the lead and prevailed over Girón. The rookie driver from Alessandros Racing also overcome adversity —was spun out on lap 117— and got back to 2nd place.

Regina Sirvent, on his first race at the wheel of the Alpha Racing No. 13 car, reached the last spot of the podium after fighting and overtaking De la Parra and Diego Ortíz on the final laps.

“Without a doubt it was a very difficult (win), specially at the end with the traffic” said Barrales at the podium and added: “It’s a great way to start the season. I want to thank my team, they gave me a great car, and for their work throughout the weekend.”

Last lap crash

Trucks México Series also started their 2026 season at the Súper Óvalo Potosino, introducing new teams and drivers.

As well as NASCAR México, Trucks México introduced the rule of fuel-only stops but, to add to the challenge, it’s only allowed to be done during green flag condition.

San Luis Potosí native, Roberto Espinosa, started from pole position, lead the first laps and also lead most of the Trucks that made their early pit stop. Edwin Arenas and Víctor Gama stayed out to run at the top spot but also had to make their fuel pit visit before the end of Stage 1.

Carlos Novelo earned the Stage win at lap 40; the No. 18 truck cycled to the front once every truck had made the fuel stop. The pace imposed by the leaders meant that only half of the field stayed on the lead-lap.

Espinosa chased Novelo and returned to the lead. The No. 96 truck was setting up for the win until a late caution, six laps to the end, changed the race outcome.

The final restart, an attempt at Green-White-Chequered format, had Espinosa, Novelo and Valeria Aranda raced side-by-side, three wide into the last lap. Novelo cleared his opponents heading into the last braking but rookie Sebastian Rodríguez surprised the leaders on the inside line and send himself, Novelo and Espinosa to the outside wall.

The @NASCARMex Truck Series had a chaotic overtime finish earlier today.#NASCAR | #NASCARMexico pic.twitter.com/t01CIrtxOw

— Seth Eggert (@SethEggert91) March 15, 2026

Between al of the chaos caused by Rodríguez, Everardo Fonseca took advantage and got the win unexpectedly. At the wheel of the No. 94 truck, Fonseca jumped from 5th to 1st in the last two corners. Aranda, also involved on the final lap crash, finished 2nd and Rodríguez was 3rd.

“It was a hard fought race but we got the result! We were at the back, in the middle and fighting at the front. I think the consistency and having an objective always wins,” said Fonseca after his triumph.