Report: NASCAR linked to possible Saudi Arabia race

NASCAR has been linked with a possible race in Saudi Arabia towards the end of the decade, Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal reported Tuesday.

The stock car racing series was listed Monday as being in discussions to bring a race to the planned Qiddiya mega-resort in Saudi Arabia. The sanctioning body declined comment to SBJ when asked about the prospect of bringing one of its series to the Middle Eastern country.

The Qiddiya mega-resort, 40 miles southwest of Riyadh, is under development. Saudi Arabia is said to have an agreement in place with Formula 1 to shift the race currently held in Jeddah to the Qiddiya Speed Park Track when it opens closer to 2030, potentially as soon as 2028, Stern wrote.

Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation Chair Khalid Al-Faisal took a tour of construction of the track Monday. He shared images on his social media showing racing series that might compete there in the future. NASCAR was listed as one of the series having had discussions, rather than there being a firm deal.

NASCAR interested in bringing race to Saudi Arabia?

The track will be unique, featuring the world’s first “cantilevered” section, the “Blade,” a corner 20 stories off the ground and supported structurally on one side. That part of the track will run alongside a theme park and water park.

.@NASCAR is declining comment on being listed as in talks to bring a future race to @Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia, but it has acknowledged exploring events in the Middle East before.

🔲The Saudis today gave an update on track construction + showed a poster with series they're eyeing. pic.twitter.com/NmKszSQvMy

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 29, 2024

“The track will be ready to host globally renowned racing events that appeal to a wide variety of audiences,” Abdullah Aldawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company, said earlier this year. “Overlooked by the formidable Tuwaiq Mountains in Qiddiya City, it will be surrounded by adrenaline-fueled attractions, experiences, and events, providing a fully immersive experience that transcends beyond racing.

“The speed park track will be seamlessly blended in its environment and the very fabric of the city, with competitors taking turn one above a music venue, and racing Six Flag’s Falcon’s Flight, complete with retail, dining and hospitality offerings that ensure a unique experience for visitors where sports, entertainment and culture collide.”

The Middle East is a region NASCAR has been open about exploring the possibility of bringing a race to, among other regions. NASCAR notably announced in August that Mexico City will host a Cup Series race in 2025. The race is set to take place June 15, 2025, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. NASCAR last held a points race outside the United States in 1958 at the Canadian Exposition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario.