NASCAR's first Cup Series race outside the United States was off to a bumpy start Friday with several teams yet to arrive in Mexico City because of travel issues in North Carolina. At least one chartered flight to Mexico City was grounded Thursday with an engine issue,

One of the biggest race weekends of the NASCAR season begins June 13 in Mexico City and concludes with the Cup Series' first international points race since 1952. The NASCAR Cup Series races in the Viva Mexico 250 on June 15 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

The NASCAR Cup Series will make its debut at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City for nearly 90 minutes of practice Friday. Cup cars will be on track for a 50-minute session starting at 4:05 p.