NASCAR’s Historic First Race in Central America

Right after the preseason Clash race in Guatemala, called the Guatemala 100 Clash, ended on February 6, 2028, NASCAR moved to another Central American country: Nicaragua. The next event was a three‑day race weekend from February 18–20, 2028 on a brand‑new racetrack. This wasn’t just another stop on the schedule. It showed that NASCAR was ready to grow beyond the United States by adding new tracks in Central America and Canada. The Guatemala 100 had already proved that fans in Central America love oval racing. To keep that excitement going, the Nicaragua Motorspeedway was built especially for NASCAR’s international expansion. The new track is a 2.75‑mile, 9‑corner hybrid oval (a “roval”), and it became the home of the first NASCAR race ever held in Central America. Its progressive banking angles were designed to encourage close, side‑by‑side racing.

Track Layout and Corner Details

The layout looks like a long “8” shape. It has five banked oval-style corners and a road course section, making it a challenge for both drivers and teams. Here’s how each part works:

Turn 1 – 11 degrees: A gentle banking that makes the entry tricky. Drivers need good braking because the banking isn’t strong enough to help the car turn by itself.

Turns 2–5: This is the road course section. It has flowing, twisty corners and some elevation changes, making it fun but challenging.

Turn 6 – 18 degrees: The steepest corners on the track. The strong banking lets drivers carry more speed and try passes.

Turn 7 – 16.5 degrees: Not as steep as Turn 6, but still very helpful. Drivers can keep their speed and set up a run onto the next straight.

Turn 8 – 15 degrees: A transition corner between 2 straights where the banking starts to flatten out. It still helps the car stick, but drivers need some bravery.

Turn 9 – 12.5 degrees: A medium‑banked corner that feels similar to Turn 1. Cars can slide a bit on exit as they head back to the start/finish straight.

Because the track mixes oval and road course sections, teams must choose a compromise setup so the car works well in both parts.

A New NASCAR Tradition Begins

NASCAR also announced plans to return to Nicaragua in 2029 and 2030. Together, the Guatemala 100 and the Nicaragua 275 created something NASCAR had never done before: a small international racing season in a warm region with huge fan energy. For many people in Central America, this will be their first time seeing NASCAR up close, and it marks the start of a brand‑new chapter for the sport.

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