NASCAR’s Mexican series to make U.S. debut in Phoenix

The Mexico-based NASCAR Toyota Series will make its U.S. debut Friday night at Phoenix International Raceway.

This will be the season opener for the stock-car racing series, which has been sanctioned by NASCAR since 2007 and holds 14 to 15 races a year, mostly on eight different oval tracks in Mexico.

The 75-lap race is scheduled after drivers in NASCAR’s premier Sprint Cup Series hold qualifying for their race Sunday on the one-mile Phoenix International track.

Mexican drivers expected to compete Friday night include defending series champion Jorge Goeters, Daniel Suarez, Antonio Perez and Ruben Garcia Jr., last season’s rookie of the year.

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sergio Romo is the race’s grand marshal.

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