Mexico City played host to the first NASCAR points race outside the United States. Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Last Lap: Foreign Affairs

Certainly for Martin Truex Jr., Brian France and every hotel owner in Mexico City, the answer is a resounding yes. But not everyone is sold on NASCAR's international expansion initiative, namely old school fans jaded by over-commercialization and entertainment-driven decision-making.

Many longtime, hardcore fans are unwilling to accept NASCAR's effort to penetrate foreign markets, especially when North Wilkesboro and Rockingham lie dormant and Darlington gets shuffled around like a stray dog.

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Makes sense -- Rockingham always produced thrilling finishes; California produced drowsiness. But it's futile. NASCAR has proven it is more than willing to choose big market business over small market competition in the name of breadth.

So to me, Mexico can be analyzed in two distinct ways: entertainment value to current fans vs. potential growth and financial gain for the industry.

I watched the Telcel Motorola 200. I was rather bored, and I'm a huge fan of road course racing. But regardless the entertainment value of the on-track action, one cannot question that the bigger picture was a smashing success.

Once again, a smashing success.

The drivers dug it, and the Mexican fan base embraced NASCAR racing. That makes it legit.

"It was awesome. I came here with an open mind but I thought it was really going to be unorganized," Shane Hmiel said. "But NASCAR did a great job and Mexico City did a great job.

"I hope we come back for the next 10 years. I think it's a great racetrack. American fans are great, but these Mexican fans sure do love stock car racing."

Hmiel likely will get his wish; this is just the beginning. Elliott Sadler said the Mexico City venue isn't Cup-ready. But once it is, don't be surprised if the Autodromo becomes a staple of the Cup schedule.

By legitimizing itself in Mexico, NASCAR will legitimize itself to the exploding Hispanic market in the United States. That's where the big score is.

There's entirely too much money to be made from the fastest growing demographic in the world, and in today's entertainment-driven NASCAR, earning potential wins out over entertainment value every single time.

Judging by the Busch Series race in Mexico, was NASCAR's choice to take a points race outside the United States the right one?

Martin Truex Jr.'s victory at Mexico City gave him at least one win on each type of track -- superspeedway, short track and road course. Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Absolutely. Judging by fan turnout and competitor reaction to the weekend, there's no question the Mexico City initiative was a rousing success. In my opinion, those two criteria should provide the barometer: Did people pay attention? And did the competitors enjoy themselves and deem it a viable initiative?

Yes on both counts. Ask Truex.

"You could really feel the enthusiasm of the crowd in driver introductions, and especially when you were driving around the track," Truex said. "These are the kinds of fans that race car drivers love to race for. I'm sure we'll be coming back to race for them again. They were great."

And for the record, to have any semblance of legitimacy, NASCAR has to make it a points-paying event. Otherwise, 75 percent of the teams would sit it out.

No points, no incentive.

It's entirely too expensive to send a team, a transporter full of equipment and two racecars down there and put them up for four days. San Diego Times-Union reporter Bill Center reported that Busch Series teams logged some 10,300 miles between Daytona, Fontana and Mexico City -- not to mention the 6,000 miles the support trucks traveled on two round trips between North Carolina and Laredo, Texas.

That's a ton of fuel. That's four transporter drivers per two-car team, and the salaries and per diem required for each. The expense incurred is astronomical.

So next year, I say NASCAR needs to put up a Nextel Cup-level purse. It's crucial. Take care of those who are taking care of you.

DreamerCas34: It's a tough call. In some ways I say it was a success and in other ways I'm just not too thrilled with the idea. Biggest thing I had a problem with, though, is that if we are going to have a race like this, then it needs to be put on schedule when its not causing so much trouble for the teams.

I spoke at length with Busch Series team owner Keith Barnwell on Monday evening, and aside from cost to teams (obviously), his key concern was precisely what Vince Neil discusses in this response: schedule placement.

Positioning Mexico City after Fontana and before Vegas presented a logistical nightmare for teams. First, teams took cars to California for the event in Fontana, a trek of some 2,400 miles. Afterwards, those transporters drove approximately 1,400 miles from Fontana to Laredo, Texas.

At the same time, transporters carrying Mexico City cars departed from Mooresville, N.C., en route to Laredo, which is some 1,440 miles. Upon meeting one another, the California cars were traded out for the Mexico City cars, and one transporter drove south, the other back east.

Monday they did it again, this time trading out Mexico City cars for Las Vegas cars. Ludicrous.

Position Mexico City on the schedule during a Cup off weekend that follows a Busch Series off weekend. That way you give teams extra time to travel, and still get your marquee names in the field.

Despite the logistical issues, Barnwell graded the Mexico City experience very high -- "An A-minus or B-plus."

Any1butJr73: NA$CAR has made more than a few bad decisions in the last few years. I'm sure NA$CAR doesn't see it as a bad decision because they have once again expanded their fan base, while at the same time alienating their original fan base. This is just another step in Brian France's ruination of what was once a unique and entertaining sport.

This guy speaks for the masses. This is the prototypical view of the hardcore fan. (The clean one, anyway.)

bretto24: I don't believe it was a good choice, at all. What purpose does it serve having a race out of the country? Does NASCAR really need to go 'international'? NASCAR claims that they are doing everything that can to save the teams money.

I thought they were headed in the right direction when began impounding the cars after qualifying. Financially speaking, it is a good idea. But then they have teams travel to Mexico -- I can't even imagine what that expense is but teams have said they would still go there knowing full well that they are losing money.

Rusty Wallace was one of a handful of Nextel Cup Series drivers who made the trek to Mexico. Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images

As was stated earlier, in order to entice teams to attend, NASCAR had to make this a points-paying event. That said, it virtually forces teams to go, so one wonders whether NASCAR shouldn't bear a portion of the expenses teams incur, such as flights and lodging.

Once again, make it a Cup-level purse. That'll help alleviate some of the pain.

SoCal29: Absolutely! I'm not fond of road racing -- as this was the case on Sunday -- and I thought the race was great! As for racing outside the U.S., this was a great success.

140,000 strong were in attendance, and I'm sure people all over the world (at least in U.S. and Mexico) watched the race. This is the perfect step in NASCAR's call for diversity. I have found in too many articles/online discussion that the "traditional" NASCAR fan seems to be selfishly unwilling to include not only foreigners, but their fellow Americans as well (namely those of us on the West coast!).

Not that I have anything against tradition, mind you. I simply believe tradition and forward progress can co-exist. That is what our country is all about! I was very skeptical in the past about decisions made by the sanctioning body, but I now see the genius of Brian France. Sunday's race was not only a great race, but a huge move forward for NASCAR!

It's a huge step for NASCAR, yes, and on several levels. The Mexican fan base proved it would embrace the sport, meaning international expansion isn't a pipe dream. Moreover, that bodes well for Texas, Phoenix, Fontana and other venues in areas with large Hispanic populations.

And the Mexican driving contingent was very competitive -- Jorge Goeters earned the pole, Carlos Contreras ran in the top-five all day, Adrian Fernandez went worse-to-first before settling into a top-10 finish -- which may be the most important step the diversity initiative has made to date.

MsLeslie: Well, I think the heads of NASCAR lucked out, because something could have gone wrong with the haulers and the drivers crossing over the border. My main concern was for the safety for everyone involved getting to Mexico, and getting back.

Plus, if there really was a vendor selling bulletproof jackets across the street from the track, my thought was, "Is it really that worth it?" With that said, Sunday's race was cool. It was better than I thought it was going to be, and Martin Truex Jr. winning it was like icing on an already yummy cake.

Now, was it the right call? Judging from Sunday's race, I'd have to say yes. Will it be the right call to do it every year, and have the Cup cars go there also? I will have to go with a no. It's like going to a great restaurant and trying a meal you've never had before, and the meal turned out to be a good choice.

Should you then keep going to that same restaurant pressing your luck? I don't think so. Sooner or later you'll probably come across something that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Stay with what you know you'll like. I'd order Watkins Glen and Infineon every time.

Barnwell said NASCAR is to be applauded for its due diligence in the security department. Matter of fact, he said they may have even over-prepared the teams for possible danger. (That's a good thing.)

Oh, and about Watkins Glen and Sears Point -- I'll agree that for whatever reason the competition at those venues seems to come off better on television. But make no mistake, road course racing never translates well on the tube. Attending one totally changes your perspective.

larsfan68: I think it was a great idea. As much as I'm not a fan of the "new NASCAR era," and hate seeing old tracks losing races, Rockingham and the Southern 500, but if you can't beat them, join them.

If NASCAR is reaching out for new viewers and markets, I think this was a brilliant idea. They had, what 130,000 people there? For a Busch race! Plus, having it on a Sunday that the Nextel race is off, all NASCAR fans were forced to watch it.

Add a street course into it, open-wheel drivers, and Robby Gordon getting kneed in the groin, I see it as a huge success and highly recommend them coming back next year.

Maybe even with the Nextel Cup Series as well. I was anticipating this race more than California and probably more than any other race coming up until we hit Bristol. The Busch Series is definitely stepping it up a notch.

Hometown favorite Jorge Goeter stunned the field by capturing the Bud Pole. Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images

James Hetfield brings up a key point, here, a crucial distinction between Mexico City and the Rockinghams and Darlingtons of the world -- full seats. Rockingham struggled to get 40,000 fans to a Cup race, much less a Busch Series show.

Mexico City more than doubled that. According to NASCAR public relations, race day attendance was 94,229. (And if you care, Saturday was 38,319 for a two-day total of 132,548.)

Would Mexico City have doubled Rockingham given the frigid February weather Rockingham was forced to deal with? Doubt it. Will they continue to produce that output? The way the drives spoke, it certainly seems like it.

sidewinder04: The race down in Mexico was a major yawn. Normally I can stay awake during the race. Keep NASCAR here in the USA where it belongs. I can maybe see having a race up in Canada, but there are so many races down south and it's not like we need any more down there. Here's an idea, How about building a track in Minnesota. They have a lot of fans and that would make it easier for who live in the northern part of the country to go to a race.

Minnesota? And we thought Rockingham was cold ...

tbruney: It's bad enough that NASCAR let Toyota in the Truck Series, now we're racing outside the U.S. Give me a break. Let's get back to real American racin'.

Wonder if this cat is aware that the Toyota Tundra is assembled in Princeton, Ind.?

CaliGirl9: I, too, lean more toward Canada as being a more desirable location for NASCAR expansion, for now that is. I think the cost and safety issues presented by traveling deep into Mexico are eventually asking for trouble.

Unless NASCAR is willing to heavily subsidize the teams' travel expenses, I believe this race is going to be cost-prohibitive to the middle-budget teams.

Face it, NASCAR understands the need to go global. But it needs to be done in a safe, cost-effective manner.

And I don't see the Cup guys being able to pull off the Mexico deal either ... already too much demand for their time, and with proposed/desired new venues in New York City and the Pacific Northwest, a quick trip to Mexico just isn't going to fit in.

NASCAR would be better served by creating a race series based in Mexico that can be used to scout new talent for importation into NASCAR's regional touring series for eventual CTS, BGN or Cup rides. Just my two cents' worth ...

And an invaluable two cents it is, Lisa Leslie. There's no room on the Cup Series schedule right now, so it's either expand the season or drop a current date. But what to drop, especially when, as Lisa pointed out, International Speedway Corp. is jonesing to add venues in Seattle/Portland and greater Manhattan?

Speculation says Darlington. That's nauseating. I'm all for big market penetration and growth potential and all those other five-dollar words, but not at the expense of NASCAR's toughest challenge.

Some say dropping Watkins Glen in favor of Mexico City is a viable option. Are you kidding me? Don't forget, International Speedway Corp. owns Watkins Glen. So until ISC buys the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez ...

It is International Speedway Corp., after all.