NASCAR to Host Historic Street Race on Active Military Base at Naval Base Coronado in 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR will break new ground in 2026 by staging a street race at Naval Base Coronado in Southern California, replacing its Chicago street race that ran for the past three seasons.
Although the Chicago race is on pause, NASCAR emphasized that the city remains part of its long-term plans, with hopes of returning as early as 2027 and continuing to operate an office there.
The San Diego event is scheduled for June 19–21 and will mark the first time NASCAR holds a street race on an active military base. The three-day weekend will feature all three national series and coincide with the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary.
“As we mark our nation’s 250th anniversary, we’re honored to celebrate with NASCAR’s first-ever street race at a military base — Naval Base Coronado,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer. “The NASCAR San Diego Weekend will pay tribute to the Navy’s legacy and the brave men and women who serve, as we bring world-class racing to a historic location.”
This will be just the second street race in NASCAR history following the Chicago event. The track layout is still in development but is projected to be about three miles long.
NASCAR has seen several changes in its schedule recently, including the closure of Auto Club Speedway after 2023 and the end of its temporary track at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which ran from 2022 to 2024 before shifting to North Carolina.
Kennedy, a driving force behind innovative races like those in the Coliseum, Chicago, Mexico City, and now San Diego, continues to push the sport into new territory. The Navy has warmly welcomed the collaboration.
“NASCAR represents the best of American values — speed, skill, and relentless determination,” said Navy Secretary John C. Phelan. “Bringing a race to Naval Air Station North Island, the birthplace of naval aviation, is a powerful tribute to shared values like grit, unity, and patriotism.”
Naval Base Coronado, often referred to as the “West Coast Quarterdeck,” encompasses nine Navy installations stretching from San Clemente Island off Long Beach to a mountain warfare site east of San Diego.
NASCAR has appointed Amy Lupo as president of the new event. Lupo, who helped launch the Coliseum races, has been with NASCAR since 2021 and previously spent over two decades with ESPN developing the X Games. She continues to reside in Southern California.
