Bizarre Cross Border Air Travel Turmoil Shakes Up Mexico NASCAR Schedule
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NASCAR ran into problems on Thursday when it tried moving teams and equipment into Mexico City for this weekend's race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Several personnel, including the Haas Factory Team, reported hurdles and delays in departure, a problem that has affected the race weekend's schedule.
A technical problem on an aircraft meant NASCAR personnel had to find a plane that was authorized to fly to the race venue. According to journalist Matt Weaver, the plane aborted takeoff after the captain reported a suspected bird hit that took out the second engine. He stated on X:
The captain of a grounded plane carrying NASCAR industry people to Mexico as it aborted a takeoff said "I dont know if we took a bird but engine 2 blew."
The industry personnel are off that plane and have their luggage back. — Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) June 12, 2025
"The captain of a grounded plane carrying NASCAR industry people to Mexico as it aborted a takeoff said "I dont know if we took a bird but engine 2 blew." [sic]
"The industry personnel are off that plane and have their luggage back."
Haulers arrive for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Mexico City at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 12, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.
Haulers arrive for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Mexico City at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 12, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.Minutes later, he posted again on X that the sport was trying to arrange for a plane that was authorized to cross the border. He wrote:
"The consensus from those flying right now is that they are waiting to find a plane that is authorized to fly across the border.
"Again, NASCAR says they're aware of the situation and working on getting everyone here to CDMX."
The consensus from those flying right now is that they are waiting to find a plane that is authorized to fly across the border.
Again, NASCAR says they're aware of the situation and working on getting everyone here to CDMX. https://t.co/T36eMGR3wz — Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) June 12, 2025
Xfinity driver Ryan Ellis posted on the same platform that his flight kept getting delayed. He wrote:
"Heading back home again (lol). My commercial flight, which has a connection afterward, keeps getting delayed. @AmericanAir"
Heading back home again (lol). My commercial flight, which has a connection afterward, keeps getting delayed. @AmericanAir pic.twitter.com/r65gXiiZQX — Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) June 13, 2025
Weaver reported on X that the Haas Factory Team booked tickets on a commercial flight after they were unable to fly in their charter plane. He wrote:
"Haas Factory Team personnel are driving to Atlanta to pick up a commercial flight to Mexico after the issue with their charter plane."
Elaborating in another post, Weaver opened up on the Haas team personnel who drove to Atlanta to board their flight to Mexico. He wrote on X:
"Specially from Haas, three drivers, three crew chiefs and two car chiefs across both divisions are those driving to Atlanta Airport to pick up a commercial flight to Mexico City."
Specially from Haas, three drivers, three crew chiefs and two car chiefs across both divisions are those driving to Atlanta Airport to pick up a commercial flight to Mexico City. https://t.co/D31ysnO2YD — Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) June 12, 2025
While the exact reason for multiple air travel issues remains unclear, the delayed arrival in Mexico prompted NASCAR to modify the race weekend schedule.
NASCAR confirmed that the Xfinity Series will be permitted to carry out all track sessions on Saturday. The time for the Cup Series qualifying and the NASCAR Mexico Series race was also revised.
FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass posted the updated schedule for the NASCAR race weekend in Mexico on X. He wrote:
Friday
• NASCAR Mexico Series race #1 will shift to 11:30 a.m. (MRN Radio)
• Two NASCAR Cup Series practices will shift to 2:05 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively (Amazon Prime, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• NASCAR Xfinity Series practice will move to Saturday
Saturday
• NASCAR Xfinity Series will hold a 50 minute practice at
9:05 p.m. (CW App)
• NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying will be held at 10:10 a.m. (CW App)
• NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying will shift to 12:05 p.m.
(Amazon Prime, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• NASCAR Mexico Series race #2 will shift to 5 p.m. (MRN Radio)
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