NASCAR President Steve Phelps expressed the sport wants grow its footprint outside of the U.S., and it could come as soon as 2025. Phelps suggested NASCAR is destined to run races in Mexico and Canada next year. Concurrently, he said there are plans to keep the sport in Southern California.

“I have nothing to announce today, but I would be surprised next year in our ’25 schedule if we didn’t go north of the border and we didn’t go south of the border,” Phelps told Fox Sports’ Chris Myers.

To note, NASCAR already has a presence in Mexico and Canada. The NASCAR Mexico Series was founded in 2004. The NASCAR Canada Series was established in 2007. However, NASCAR has not held a race in Canada or Mexico, or any international race, in any of its top three series since 2019.

An open question based on Phelps’ comments is what series, and what presence, NASCAR will have across its northern and southern borders. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was rumored to be a candidate for a Cup Series race this season. It would have marked the first potential points-paying Cup race in Canada since 1952. However, that didn’t come to fruition, and Iowa Speedway was included on the Cup schedule.

It can also be speculated Cup Series could remain exclusively in the U.S., but the Xfinity or Truck Series could travel to Mexico and/or Canada. Both racing series had an international race on their schedules for several years.

The Xfinity Series held races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada, from 2007-12. The Truck Series raced at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park during the 2013-19 seasons.

The Xfinity Series ran four races at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course in Mexico City from 2005-08. The series hasn’t returned since.

It remains to be seen where NASCAR’s international presence may land next season. Domestically, Phelps said the sport will remain a presence in Southern California.

Auto Club Speedway, a two-mile oval near Fontana, California, is being demolished. Much of the track’s footprint is being replaced by an industrial park. However, Phelps previously noted a “short track” will remain on the site. Auto Club was a fixture on the NASCAR schedule from 2007-23.

Meanwhile, NASCAR’s contract with the L.A. Coliseum to host the “Clash” is now completed. The sport’s presence could continue in the market with the Clash if a new contract is signed, or if NASCAR has another plan up its sleeve. Either way, Phelps said we’ll know with the release of the 2025 schedule.

“We’re not going to miss a year [in Southern California],” Phelps said, adding the SoCal market is “incredibly important to NASCAR.”