NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps told drivers before the race: “Together, we are doing something that will be remembered in the history of our great sport.”

After a rough start to his weekend in Mexico City, Shane van Gisbergen found race day to be smooth sailing by leading 60 of 100 laps to win the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

An overcast ski and early afternoon drizzle could not dampen the enthusiasm or energy of the huge crowd at Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez Sunday for the first points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race outside the United States in half a century.

But Van Gisbergen has a knack for shining in unfamiliar territory. In a gritty performance on the rain-slicked road course, he led 60 laps and pulled away late to win by over 16 seconds ahead of Christopher Bell — earning his second career Cup Series victory and clinching a spot in the NASCAR playoffs.

The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series will hold consecutive qualifying sessions Saturday at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which then will play host to back-to-back races on its 15-turn, 2.42-mile layout. The NASCAR Mexico Series will hold a 40-lap race (with a 70-minute time limit), followed by a 65-lap race for the Xfinity Series.

See where your favorite NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will pit for The Chilango 150 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

The NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez this weekend, with qualifying at 10:35 a.m. ET on Saturday on The CW App.

The NASCAR Cup Series will make its debut at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City for nearly 90 minutes of practice Friday. Cup cars will be on track for a 50-minute session starting at 4:05 p.m. ET and then another 25-minute session on the 15-turn, 2.42-mile road course at 5:30 p.m.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico for the premier stock car division's first international points race.