Berry, DEX Imaging Team Ready for Mexico City Road Course

Wood Brothers Racing heads to Mexico for a historic NASCAR Cup Series race. Josh Berry will pilot the No. 21 DEX Imaging Ford Mustang in the Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The event features 100 laps on a 2.429-mile road course, marking just the third points-paying race held outside the continental U.S. NASCAR has scheduled extended practice and multi-car qualifying before the race this Sunday.

This weekend marks a significant moment for Wood Brothers Racing as NASCAR heads to Mexico for the first time in its 75-year history. Josh Berry and the No. 21 DEX Imaging Ford Mustang Dark Horse team are set to compete in the Viva Mexico 250 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. This event is particularly notable as it is just the third points-paying race to occur outside the continental United States for the NASCAR Cup Series.

The race will feature 100 laps around a 2.429-mile road course characterized by its 15 turns. Built in 1959, the historic racing circuit honors legendary drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez. Over the decades, it has hosted a multitude of significant motorsports events, challenging drivers with its combination of tight corners and long straights.

Berry shared his thoughts on the course layout, expressing optimism. “It is definitely a pretty cool layout,” he stated. “It is going to be interesting. I think there are some passing zones.” However, he also acknowledged the challenges it may pose as he prepares for the race.

“I think there’s definitely going to be issues with track limits in the esses,” Berry observed. “It’s just tight. You can just tell. To me, it is probably just a little bit worse than COTA. It doesn’t feel like there is going to be grass on both sides so it is just a little bit different. Overall, I think it should probably be a good race. That is what we want to see.”

In anticipation of the unique challenges posed by this new venue, NASCAR is offering an extended practice schedule on Friday to assist teams in their preparations. The first session will last 50 minutes and begins at 1 p.m., followed by a shorter 25-minute session at 3 p.m.

Qualifying will take place on Saturday at noon, utilizing a multi-car format. The green flag for the Viva Mexico 250, a 242-mile race, will wave at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The stage breaks during the race are set for Laps 20 and 45, promising to keep the action lively.

Fans will be able to follow all the races this weekend on Amazon Prime Video, ensuring they do not miss a moment of this historic event.

In summary, the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series event at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez represents a historic milestone for both Wood Brothers Racing and NASCAR, as it ventures into Mexico for the first time in 75 years. Josh Berry and his team are preparing for new challenges on this historic circuit, with optimism about the race while also recognizing the tough layout. With thorough preparations and extensive practice sessions, the team aims to make a mark in this exciting and significant race.

Original Source: speedwaydigest.com