The Desafio Corona was launched in 2004 with the goal of developing stock car racing in Mexico and transitioning the country's historically open-wheel fan base toward American-style stock car competition. The series grew steadily in infrastructure, fan attendance, and driver participation between 2004 and 2006. At the 2006 Desafio Corona award ceremony, the series was officially rebranded as the NASCAR Mexico Corona Series, marking the beginning of its formal structure under the NASCAR international banner.
The series has operated under several naming iterations tied to its title sponsors. Toyota assumed naming rights in 2012, calling it the NASCAR Toyota Series. After losing PEAK Antifreeze sponsorship at the end of 2022, the series reverted to its current name, the NASCAR Mexico Series. It stands alongside the NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Brasil Series, and NASCAR Euro Series as one of NASCAR's four international sanctioned series.
Following the 2015 season, the series was suspended. Organizers chose to redirect attention toward the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix, which had been revived that year after a long absence. Several teams and drivers migrated to the Super Copa Telcel V8 series during the hiatus. In October 2016, the return of the Mexico Series was announced with new PEAK Antifreeze sponsorship, beginning with an exhibition race in December 2016 and a full 2017 season to follow. Two supporting series were introduced for 2017: the NASCAR FedEx Challenge Series and the NASCAR Mikel's Truck Series. A playoff system to determine the end-of-season champion was introduced for the first time in 2023.
Since its 2004 inception, the series has held events at 17 tracks across 15 locations, including circuits in the United States and Panama in addition to Mexico. The venue mix includes both ovals and road courses, with several tracks having hosted races in both configurations — among them Autodromo Monterrey, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Autodromo Miguel E. Abed, and Autodromo de Queretaro.
San Luis Potosi has hosted more series races than any other location, with 42 events as of April 2025. The shortest circuit in series history was a temporary 0.402 km layout around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, used for a 2024 exhibition run supporting the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash. That race was won by Daniel Suarez. The longest track in series history is set to be the National road course layout at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez at 3.89 km, planned for a joint weekend with the Cup and Xfinity Series in June 2025.
The series has also contributed to oval track construction in Mexico. New facilities were built or remodeled in Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Queretaro, and Potosino from 2005 onward. In 2012, El Dorado Speedway in Juan Aldama, Chihuahua, was completed and has remained distinctive for its regular night racing format.
Competing machinery conforms to a tightly controlled specification. Engines are 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 units producing around 400 horsepower, mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. Minimum car weight is 1,216 kg. Fuel is 98-octane unleaded supplied by Pemex, carried in a 15-gallon tank. Tires are slicks provided exclusively by General Tire, which also serves as the sole tire supplier for the ARCA Menards Series and several other NASCAR international series.
As of 2025, eleven different drivers have claimed the NASCAR Mexico championship. Ruben Garcia Jr. holds the record with five titles and is also the youngest champion in series history, having won at the age of 20. Rafael Martinez is the oldest champion at 45 years old.
Daniel Suarez is the series' most prominent graduate. He won the Mexico Series championship before ascending through NASCAR's domestic ranks — taking the NASCAR Xfinity Series title in 2016 with Joe Gibbs Racing, and eventually reaching the Cup Series. On June 12, 2022, Suarez won his first Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway. Jorge Goeters is the other Mexico Series alumnus who has also competed in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The NASCAR Mexico Series has served as a proving ground for Latin American talent and a bridge between the broader NASCAR ecosystem and Mexican motorsport culture. Its consistent development of oval track infrastructure in Mexico, its periodic use of international venues, and its role in launching drivers like Daniel Suarez to the highest levels of American stock car racing cement its significance within North American motorsport.