Team owners and drivers throughout the Busch Series garage are asking one big question as NASCAR prepares for the third running of the series road race there this weekend: Are we coming back in 2008? It’s a question that doesn’t have definitive answer yet. Many in the garage – tired of the logistical hurdles the race brings – say they have heard rumors that NASCAR might opt to move the race to Monterrey or just not return to Mexico. From the start, the Busch Series race at Mexico City has been viewed as a three-year experiment, and this is the third year of the race at the track with promotion company OCESA. “All of our sanctioning agreements are annual, and we’re excited about this year’s event and expect a good crowd,” NASCAR Vice President of Operations Steve O’Donnell said Friday morning at the track. “As with any event, we’ll work with the promoter after the race and evaluate how it went, but so far I think we’re happy with everything that’s been done.” O’Donnell said there have been no discussions about running a race in Monterrey and said the evaluation of this event will happen in four to six weeks.(SceneDaily.com)(3-2-2007)
UPDATE: The Busch Series will return to Mexico City in 2008, according to Federico Alaman, the director of sports events for race promoter OCESA. Speaking after the drivers meeting for the Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200, Alaman said NASCAR and OCESA have agreed to stage a race in 2008 for a fourth consecutive year at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. NASCAR Vice President of Operations Steve O’Donnell said there is no contract signed. He also wouldn’t commit to the same weekend in the schedule.(SceneDaily.com)(3-4-2007)
