Kevin Harvick predicts winner of NASCAR Cup race at Mexico City

The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The Viva México 250 will take center stage, and ahead of all the action, Kevin Harvick and the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour crew are locking in their predictions.

First, Kaitlyn Vincie got the fun started. She’s riding with a veteran road course savant to get his first win of 2025: “This is going to be interesting, because we don’t really know who could win this weekend,” Vincie prefaced. “I’m going to go with AJ Allmendinger.”

Allmendinger is certainly a contender. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, he’s +1500 to get the dub. If he does, he’ll lock himself into the playoffs, which would be huge for Kaulig Racing.

In response, Harvick was slightly surprised with Vincie’s pick. It opened up the door for him to go with the favorite in Shane van Gisbergen: “That’s a big surprise,” Harvick responded. “I thought you’d take the favorite. SVG.”

While van Gisbergen is thought of as a threat on road courses, his performance at intermediate tracks has left a bit to be desired. However, he turned in a solid showing in Michigan this past weekend, finishing P18 when the checkered flag waved. 

With Mexico City on the docket, van Gisbergen is currently P33 in the overall point standings. He only has one top ten on the season, so a win is more important to him at one of these road courses than anything. He’ll be going for broke at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and Harvick thinks he’ll get it done.

Meanwhile, Mamba Smith is thinking of a different Trackhouse Racing wheelman when it comes to this weekend’s race. He thinks Mexico native Daniel Suarez can rise above and win in heroic fashion.

“I was going to take AJ. You know what? Because I just feel like there’s some magic in the air, and he needs it anyway. I’m going with the hometown boy. Just give me Daniel Suarez,” Smith predicted. “Why not? Home cooking.”

Like his teammate SVG, a win would mean the world to Suarez. He’s back in P28 in the overall point standings, only nothing one top five in 2025. He needs it if he’s going to make the playoffs, and Smith is hoping it comes to fruition.

All told, it’s anyone’s guess who gets to Victory Lane during the NASCAR Cup Series’ trip to Mexico. It should be a fascinating event at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. We’ll see who makes history and takes the checkered flag.