"Proud" is the word Ben Kennedy is attaching to NASCAR's weekend in Mexico City.The historic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez course hosted both the Xfinity Series, which last competed in the country in 2008,

Shane van Gisbergen won the pole for the Viva Mexico 250 in qualifying on Saturday, setting the fastest time (92.776, 93.904 mph) in a session that was cut short by rain. Van Gisbergen's pole is his first of the season and the second of his Cup career.

NASCAR Mexico Series President and CEO Jimmy Morales, from left, NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez, of Mexico, Ben Kennedy, executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovations officer and Federico Alemán, OCESA executive, pose for a photo on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) AP