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NASCAR News: Cup Series to race in San Diego at Naval Base

Posted by AR1 staff

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of United States Navy, NASCAR will once again make history by hosting a brand-new street race at Naval Base Coronado as a highlight of the 2026 schedule. NASCAR San Diego will be a three-day full-throttle race weekend headlined by the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, on June 19-21, 2026.

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“As part of our nation’s 250th anniversary, we are honored for NASCAR to join the celebration as we host our first street race at a military base, Naval Base Coronado,” said Ben Kennedy, EVP, Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer. “NASCAR San Diego Weekend will honor the Navy’s history and the men and women who serve as we take the best motorsports in the world to the streets of Naval Base Coronado.”

This second-ever Cup Series street course will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2026 and will be the first NASCAR event on an active military base. Bringing the full NASCAR National Series along for the celebration, the Cup Series event will be preceded by high-energy races for the Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races on Friday, June 19, 2026 and Saturday, June 20, 2026. The official NASCAR San Diego street course layout will be unveiled in the near future.

NASCAR preliminary San Diego Track Layout – From their video

“NASCAR embodies the very best of the American spirit through speed, precision and an unyielding pursuit of excellence. 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,” said Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan. “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 wear the uniform, and inspire the next generation to step forward and serve something greater than themselves.”

Naval Base Coronado, known as the “West Coast Quarterdeck”, is a consortium of nine Navy installations stretching from San Clemente Island 50 miles off the coast of Long Beach, CA to the Mountain Warfare Training Facility 50 miles east of San Diego.  Naval Base Coronado supports the Navy’s mission by providing force generation infrastructure to support our Nation’s warfighters while delivering exceptional quality of life and wellness services for our Sailors and their families.

“As Commanding Officer of Naval Base Coronado and on behalf of the United States Navy, it’s an honor to partner with NASCAR at NAS North Island as part of our 250th anniversary celebration,” said Captain Loren Jacobi. “Hosting one of America’s premier motorsports events on this historic base reflects our partnership with the local community and our shared pride in the nation’s heritage. We are privileged to showcase the dedication of our Sailors alongside NASCAR’s finest as we celebrate our 250th anniversary.”

The NASCAR San Diego logo features an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which is recognized as only being flown by the U.S. Navy. The three stars in the logo signify land, sea, and air, which represents the Navy as the only branch of the military to operate in all three spaces. The arch represents the mission-style architecture found in San Diego. The stripes at the bottom of the logo represent the four largest United States Armed Force branches: Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy.

Today, NASCAR named Amy Lupo the NASCAR San Diego President. Lupo brings a proven track record of driving results with more than 25 years of success delivering unforgettable fan experiences at high-profile sporting events. Since joining NASCAR in 2021, Lupo helped launch the innovative and first-of-its-kind Clash at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif., and has been instrumental in supporting other new NASCAR events.

Prior to NASCAR, Lupo spent more than 20 years at ESPN where she played a central role in the evolution and expansion of the X Games as well as leading global marketing efforts across all branded properties and ensuring a seamless synergy across ESPN and Disney platforms. Internationally, Lupo served as event director for X Games events in Tignes, Munich, and Sydney, overseeing all facets of planning and execution for the globally televised competition, and supported X Games events in 14 nations globally. Lupo has deep personal ties to her favorite city, San Diego, as she lived in-market early in her professional career and continues to live in Southern California.

“This a huge win for San Diego and we are so grateful to NASCAR for their partnership,” said Mark Neville, CEO, Sports San Diego. “Without a doubt, the NASCAR San Diego Weekend will have a significant and favorable impact on San Diego’s tourism and hospitality industry. On top of that, being the first ever NASCAR race on an active military base is going to be quite the spectacle and you can’t beat Naval Base Coronado.”

NASCAR is partnering with Sports San Diego on operational and promotional support for the NASCAR San Diego Weekend. Sports San Diego is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with a purpose to drive visitor demand to economically benefit the San Diego region through producing, recruiting, supporting, and hosting world-class sports events. San Diego has hosted some of the largest events and most iconic brands in the world, including the Super Bowl, X Games, MLB All-Star Game, U.S. Open, Breeders’ Cup, and more. NASCAR San Diego now joins that illustrious history. Learn more at sportssandiego.org.

NASCAR San Diego’s Cup Series race will be the final race of Prime Video’s five-race broadcast window for 2026. The Xfinity Series race will air on The CW and the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race will be broadcast by FOX Sports.

Tickets for the 2026 NASCAR San Diego Weekend will go on-sale this fall. Tickets are expected to go fast, so fans can put down a deposit for advance pricing today at NASCARSanDiego.com. Additional details and elements of the weekend will be announced soon, and fans can follow @NASCARSanDiego on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest real-time updates on all aspects of the event.

The remainder of the 2026 schedules for the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will be announced in the near future.