NASCAR Race at Naval Base in 2026 Offers Unique Fan Experience
New NASCAR Event at Naval Base Coronado in 2026
NASCAR is set to bring a new and exciting event to the United States Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California, for the 2026 season. This marks a significant shift from the previous street race that was held in Chicago. The event will take place over three days, from June 19 to June 21, and promises to be a major attraction for fans across the country.
One of the key points highlighted by Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s chief venue and racing innovation officer, is that there will be no limit on tickets sold to the general public. This is different from what was seen with the IndyCar Series at the Thermal Club in California. Fans interested in attending can visit NASCARSanDiego.com to put their name on a wait list or place a deposit for the weekend. The event will feature the Xfinity Series on Saturday and the Cup Series on Sunday, with the Craftsman Truck Series also making an appearance on Friday.
Kennedy mentioned that there will be a military day on Friday, where many active-duty military personnel will be joining the event for the Craftsman Truck Series race. This shows NASCAR's commitment to honoring and celebrating the military community.
The course design for the event is still being finalized, but it is expected to span three miles entirely within the sprawling base. The backdrop will include the Pacific Ocean, the city of San Diego, and F-18s on the tarmac. The base is also known for being the location of the I Bar, which was featured in the movies "Top Gun" and "Top Gun Maverick." A virtual rendition of the course has already been created by iRacing, and some drivers have tested it, providing valuable feedback on straightaways, corners, runoff areas, and pit lane design.
This is the first time the Craftsman Truck Series will join NASCAR’s other two national touring series on a street course since the sanctioning body conducted its first ever street race in Chicago in 2023. The addition of the San Diego race for 2026 marks the sixth consecutive year that one or more new events have been added to the schedule, returning NASCAR’s premier series to the Southern California market.
NASCAR was absent from the nation’s second largest market in 2025 after the closure of Auto Club Speedway. The organization conducted the non-points event Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum for three years, but that ended after the 2024 race. The Cup race will be broadcast on Prime Video, while the Xfinity Series will be covered by CW and Fox Sports handling the truck event.
The idea of hosting an event on a military base was fostered several years ago by NASCAR’s scheduling team. Kennedy explained that they had conversations with bases across the country and considered different branches of the military before settling on Naval Base Coronado. He emphasized that this event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the sport to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country and the Navy.
Amy Lupo, who led the NASCAR venture at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, is now leading the project for the San Diego event. As the details continue to unfold, fans can stay updated through social media at @NASCARSanDiego.
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