NASCAR seems on the verge of taking the next big step toward racing beyond the borders of the United States.
NASCAR has seen plenty of racers from other countries compete over the years, presently showcased by the likes of Mexico's Daniel Suarez and New Zealand's Shane van Gisbergen, who both drive at Trackhouse Racing.
With those drivers coming in, fans from around the world have grown as well, with many of them hoping that NASCAR will one day race in their home country. For now, NASCAR has regular competing series in Canada, Europe, Mexico and Brazil.
The NASCAR Cup Series has never held a point-paying race outside of the U.S. but according to Chad Seigler, NASCAR's vice president and chief international officer, an international race is closer than ever.
"For years we said we want to go outside the U.S. and race, and you've seen us move from the messaging of it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when," Siegler told motorsport.com's Jim Utter. "I would tell you that we're leaning even closer now to, 'Yes, we are going.' I feel confident we're going to be there sooner than later."
It isn't like NASCAR's three biggest series have never raced outside the States — Craftsman Truck Series has raced in Canada in the past, and the Xfinity Series raced in Montreal and Mexico City for several seasons. As for Cup, it held two exhibition races in Japan in 1996 and 1998.
The NASCAR Garage 56 entry at Le Mans in 2023 was well received by the fans who seem to want to see more.
As for where, and what kind of track, NASCAR has proven it can race in a stadium or on the streets, so it doesn't have to be a purpose-built racing facility.
"I think what we've seen particularly in the last four to five years in the Cup series is that we don't have to go race in a purpose-built racetrack," Seigler said. "We can race in a stadium — which opens an entirely new potential avenue for racing outside the United States — we can race on a street course; we can race on dirt; and an oval or a traditional road course."
And, according to Seigler, that has opened markets other than Mexico or Montreal.
"A lot of our exercises in the last few years have allowed us to open us and look at additional markets outside the country."
Wherever they end up going, it's clear an international race is closer than ever.
