The NASCAR San Diego Weekend presented by Anduril, set for June 19-21, 2026, will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy, transforming San Diego Bay into a high-octane celebration of speed and service. The course layout was unveiled Tuesday alongside an animated flyover video, showing sweeping turns, long straightaways, and Navy-inspired landmarks that anchor the design.
“This is one of the most anticipated events in NASCAR’s modern era,” said Amy Lupo, president of NASCAR San Diego. “It’s so exciting to finally share the street course layout and provide this first look for our longtime and new fans. We can’t wait to see how the best drivers in the world meet this challenge while celebrating America’s Navy.”
The track begins at the Ellyson Start/Finish Line, named for Commander Theodore Ellyson, the first U.S. Naval aviator. From there, competitors will navigate a sharp right-hander before entering a series of high-speed corners that trace the edge of the base and skirt the San Diego Bay. Key sections include Turn 5, “Carrier Corner,” which cuts between the docking locations of two aircraft carriers; Turn 8, “Coronado Chicane,” a technical sequence leading into the base’s interior; and Turn 14, “Runway Road,” which runs alongside Halsey Field’s active runway.
The course, designed in collaboration with iRacing, is expected to be the longest on NASCAR’s 2026 schedule and one of its most complex, blending elements of traditional racing with the visual spectacle of an oceanside military airfield. Officials anticipate grandstands, hospitality areas, and general admission zones throughout the circuit, with attendance projected in the tens of thousands.
The weekend kicks off on Friday, June 19, with Navy Community Day, an event open exclusively to U.S. Navy personnel stationed at Naval Base Coronado and a limited number of Coronado residents. NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series race will cap off the day.
On Saturday, June 20, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will take center stage, followed by the Cup Series’ Anduril 250 “Race the Base” on Sunday, June 21 - Father’s Day - as the main event. Deposits for pre-sale tickets are already being accepted at NASCARSanDiego.com, with general ticket sales opening to the public on November 7.
The Coronado race marks NASCAR’s first new street circuit since the now-paused Chicago Street Race, which ran from 2023 through 2025. The shift to San Diego’s Navy base underscores the organization’s ongoing efforts to innovate, expand geographically, and connect with broader audiences through high-profile, unconventional venues.
“This could be a one-year partnership, or it could evolve into something long-term,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s executive vice president for racing innovation. “Naval Base Coronado offers a unique opportunity - not just to celebrate the Navy’s history, but to explore what’s possible for the future of NASCAR.”
For San Diego, the event represents a major tourism and cultural milestone, likely to draw national media attention and a global audience eager to watch stock cars roar past aircraft carriers, hangars, and runways in one of the world’s most scenic naval settings.
Whether it becomes an annual tradition or a one-time spectacle, NASCAR’s Race the Base promises to be one of the defining motorsport moments of 2026 - and a new chapter in the enduring connection between speed, innovation, and American pride.
For more information, visit nascar.com/news-media/2025/10/21/san-diego-race-course-revealed-for-naval-base-coronado.
Originally published on October 21, 2025.
Originally published on October 21, 2025.
