Qualifying results set starting grid for Mexico race

It’s a weekend of firsts as NASCAR takes its big-league Cup Series to Mexico City for the first time.

Include Saturday’s qualifying, when pre-race favorite Shane van Gisbergen became the first-ever pole winner south of the border. His fastest lap averaged 93.904 mph around the 15-turn track that measures 2.4 miles.

The 55-minute qualifying session was cut 17 minutes short due to rain. Ryan Preece was second fastest and will start alongside van Gisbergen.

Van Gisbergen, a road-course specialist, will lead the field to green Sunday afternoon in the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Coverage starts at 3 p.m. on Amazon Prime.

The Xfinity Series is also in Mexico City, where that circuit raced from 2005-08. The Chilanga 150 is slated for this afternoon. Coverage begins at 4:30 on The CW.

Watch NASCAR action from Mexico City

NASCAR lineup for Mexico City

1. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (1:32.776 seconds)
2. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford (1:32.840)
3. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (1:32.849)
4. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (1:32.921)
5. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (1:32.974)
6. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (1:32.984)
7. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford (1:33.020)
8. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (1:33.022)
9. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford (1:33.049)
10. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (1:33.061)
11. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (1:33.084)
12. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (1:33.108)
13. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford (1:33.158)
14. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (1:33.194)
15. Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota (1:33.201)
16. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford (1:33.206)
17. Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (1:33.234)
18. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (1:33.247)
19. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (1:33.257)
20. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford (1:33.319)
21. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (1:33.342)
22. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota (1:33.345)
23. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (1:33.351)
24. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford (1:33.365)
25. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota (1:33.426)
26. Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford (1:33.428)
27. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (1:33.458)
28. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (1:33.595)
29. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (1:33.604)
30. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford (1:33.707)
31. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (1:33.720)
32. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (1:34.058)
33. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet (1:34.152)
34. Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford (1:34.213)
35. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford (1:34.416)
36. Ryan Truex, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (1:34.624)
37. Katherine Legge, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet (1:35.910)

How to watch Sunday NASCAR race

3 p.m.: Cup Series, Viva Mexico 250 (Prime).