Max Gutiérrez started tenth and finished first at Autódromo Monterrey. The driver of the No. 23 Ford needed just 20 laps to take the lead in the COMMSCOPE 120 and held onto it until the checkered flag.
Race Development
The eighth round of the NASCAR México Series 2025 began at 4:30 PM with 36 degrees Celsius and 70% humidity. Gutiérrez took advantage of the first restart to gain four positions at once. By lap 18, he was already battling for third place with Alex de Alba, while Rubén Rovelo led from pole position.
The key moment came on lap 22. Rovelo went slightly wide in turn 4, and Gutiérrez slipped the Ford inside. De Alba tried to follow but got stuck behind the No. 28. By lap 30, the Mexico City native already had a 1.2-second lead.
Photo By Nascar México Series
"Rovelo and Alex were very fast, but I managed to control them. I had a small mistake when I brushed the wall on the straight exit, but it didn't affect the pace. The day was unforgettable, like when I won at Hermanos Rodríguez," explained Gutiérrez, who earned 175 points with the victory.
Rovelo never slowed down. The driver of the No. 28 Ford reduced the gap to eight-tenths by lap 75, but a brush against the wall in turn 6 ultimately relegated him. "That contact on the straight exit affected me. We had a car for more, but the strategy worked for second place," he admitted.
De Alba Scores Crucial Points
Alex de Alba ran the entire race in third place. The San Luis Potosí native in the #14 car chose to secure points rather than risk a move on Rovelo. The decision paid off: he maintains the overall lead with 892 points, 47 more than his closest rival.
"More and more people are getting interested in NASCAR México. I feel fortunate to lead the championship. This result keeps me ahead before the final regular-season round," said de Alba, who also earned an extra point for finishing third in the Stage on lap 55.
With two wins this year, the San Luis Potosí driver has his ticket secured for the playoffs. Consistency has been his weapon: he hasn't finished outside the top 10 in any race in 2025.
NASCAR Challenge for Vecchi
Giancarlo Vecchi capitalized on his competitors' mistakes to take the NASCAR Challenge. Jorge de la Parra started from pole but a spin on lap 42 dropped him to second. The championship leader salvaged a podium with conservative driving in the final laps.
"Everything went as planned. The championship gets interesting because I'm now just 28 points behind De la Parra. The team gave me a great car, and we're aiming for more in Puebla," said Vecchi.
Photo By Nascar México Series
Alonso Salinas completed his best race of the year with third place. "We're ready for big things. We're leaving Monterrey with a good haul," said the driver, who achieved his first podium in the category.
The top five finishers in the COMMSCOPE 120 were: Gutiérrez, Rovelo, de Alba, Eloy Sebastian, and Xavi Razo. The regular season ends on July 20 at Miguel E. Abed in Amozoc, Puebla. There, the first-stage champion and the final playoff spots will be determined.
Upcoming Races
Drivers Standings 2025
| POS | PILOTO | PTS | ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex de Alba | ||
| 2 | Julio Rejón | ||
| 3 | Max Gutiérrez | ||
| 4 | Germán Quiroga | ||
| 5 | Eloy Falcón | 500 | |
| 6 | Rubén Rovelo | 493 | |
| 7 | Xavi Razo | 488.5 | |
| 8 | Rubén García Jr | 457 |
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