This Saturday marked a milestone in international racing history as NHRA President Glen Cromwell announced that Autódromo de Monterrey, located in Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico, has returned to the NHRA Member Track Network while at the John Cardinale Media Center at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
“We’re in Puerto Rico, Canada, Saudi Arabia and now in Mexico,” Cromwell said. “This is an exciting time of our 75th [anniversary] to bring [Autódromo de Monterrey] to the family, because I know they were here in the ‘90s. They never really left. They were always a part of the family.”
Autódromo CEO Gilberto Jimenez said this move also honors his family since expanding the organization has been a part of his father’s dream since he built his racetrack 56 years ago.
“What an example will be for the juniors, for the teenagers, to have Mexico and the USA together, to compete together, all of us together,” Jimenez said. “It is the perfect timing, I believe, between the two countries to promote racing, to promote the new generation, the new guys, the new kids, the new teenagers to go racing”
Cromwell and Jimenez both appreciate the outreach opportunities the partnership offers.
“Bringing our superstars and our athletes down to Mexico is a huge opportunity, whether it’s an exhibition or just bringing them down there to be seen and get autographs,” Cromwell said.
Jimenez said it will provide a chance to counter any negative press his country has received lately.
”Mexico is a peaceful country,” Jimenez said. “It’s a country of opportunities. I think it’s the right time for the Mexican fans to feel involved at a professional worldwide level as the National Hotrod Association has at the moment.”
Century Prime Global President Rudy Gutierrez, who played a part in the reunion of NHRA and Autódromo de Monterrey said the partnership will compliment the camaraderie between U.S. racers and the racers he represents from Mexico who compete on their own in local races in Dallas, Texas and Florida,
“So imagine now if they feel like we are all a part of the same family, it will be awesome,” he said.
It was also announced at the press conference that next year, the racers in Mexico at Autódromo Monterey will have an opportunity to race at the Western Conference Finals Junior Drag Race at the Texas Motorplex. “They’ll have a team,” Cromwell said. “They will also be able to compete in the championship in Las Vegas at the end of the year.”
