Report: NASCAR potentially considering Middle East race in global expansion efforts
NASCAR is reportedly considering racing in the Middle East as part of its global expansion efforts. Per Sports Business Journal, the global race could come to fruition before the end of the decade, though concerned parties remained mum regarding the matter.
In an Instagram story shared by Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation Chair Khalid Al-Faisal, NASCAR could be seen as one of the racing series listed for the planned Qiddiya Speed Park Track. The photo was captured during his visit to the construction site on Monday.
Qiddiya Speed Park Track is a racetrack being built 30 miles outside Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is set to feature a racetrack elevated more than 20 stories above the ground, along with recreational theme parks and hotels.
When Sports Business Journal asked NASCAR for comments, the stock car racing league declined. However, COO Steve O’Donnell and executive vice president Ben Kennedy told SBP in 2023 that the Middle East was one of the regions considered for global expansion.
If NASCAR confirms to race at the Qiddiya Speed Park Track, it would become the first NASCAR race in the region. It would follow previous international races held in Australia and Japan around the 90s.
For now, though, international fans can look forward to the first modern-era points-scoring Cup Series race in Mexico City scheduled next year. The race will be held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the same track which is part of the F1 calendar.
Meanwhile, the Qiddiya Speed Park Track is expected to open in 2028. The track will reportedly host the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in lieu of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
NASCAR is set for an international race in Mexico City in 2025
Earlier this year, NASCAR released the 2025 Cup Series calendar highlighted by the race in Mexico City. The upcoming international stop is the first-ever points-paying race since 1958 when the league raced in Toronto, Canada.
In a statement, the league's executive VP Ben Kennedy said that Mexico City is a stepping stone to the league’s expansion efforts.
“It’s no secret we’ve been bullish about growing NASCAR beyond our borders, and the 2025 schedule is an important and thrilling first milestone in that journey,” Kennedy stated.
He acknowledged that the race could open up more opportunities in the global market, saying:
“This is a monumental moment for our sport in the sense that this is our first step of really taking the Cup Series internationally, and I think it could set us up for the future in potential new markets. So, it’s going to be a big project for us. There’s a lot of questions that we have. I’m sure that the industry will have some questions as well, but excited to take this on.”
The NASCAR Cup Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will happen on June 15 next year. It will be held a week after the Michigan race weekend before returning to the US the following week.