NASCAR to race in San Diego for 2026 season at Naval Base Coronado
NASCAR will hold races on an active military base for the first time during the 2026 season in San Diego.
The NASCAR Cup Series is running the America’s Navy 250 at the United States Naval Base Coronado in San Diego on June 21.
NASCAR announced the race weekend in a July 23 press release and also shared a video on X with various NASCAR drivers interacting with Navy personnel.
This will be the first NASCAR race held in San Diego. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series will also run races at the Naval base.
“What a special way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Navy, 250th anniversary of our country and put on what is going to be undoubtedly the most anticipated event of 2026,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s executive vice president, chief venue and racing innovation officer in the press release. “And I’m bullish on it being the best sporting event of the year.”
NASCAR ran a similar street-circuit style of race for the past three seasons in downtown Chicago. That race has been put on hold at least for the 2026 season.
Further details of the San Diego track will be unveiled at a later time. NASCAR is envisioning the track by driving on the base and working with the simulation platform iRacing, which the sport used to help create the layout for the Chicago Street Race and The Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
“It’ll be a blend of traditional street racing in a way where we’ll be winding our ways through some of the streets on the base,” Kennedy said. “They’ll be going past (aircraft) carriers. They’ll eventually go out onto the tarmac, probably by some military aircraft, maybe a couple of F-18s out there, and then back towards the entrance to the base.”
Naval leaders are excited to be able to host the race, the first time NASCAR will run at a Naval base.
“NASCAR embodies the very best of the American spirit through speed, precision and an unyielding pursuit of excellence,” Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan said in the press release. “Hosting a race aboard Naval Air Station North Island, the birthplace of naval aviation, it’s not just a historic first, it’s a powerful tribute to the values we share: grit, teamwork and love of country. From the flight deck to the finish line, this collaboration reflects the operational intensity and unity of purpose that define both the United States Navy and NASCAR. We’re proud to open our gates to the American people, honor those who serve, and inspire the next generation to step forward and serve something greater than themselves.”
The NASCAR Cup Series race will be shown on Amazon Prime as the last of its five-race package for 2026. The NASCAR Xfinity Series race will be shown on The CW and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race will be on FOX Sports.
Follow sports writer Austin Chastain on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ or reach him via email at achastain@gannett.com.
