Honoring the 250th Anniversary of the United States Navy, all three of NASCAR’s premier divisions will tackle a street course race around Naval Base Coronado outside of San Diego, California.
NASCAR To Race At Naval Base Coronado, San Diego, in 2026 to Honor Navy’s 250th
To celebrate the United States Navy’s 250th anniversary, NASCAR is heading to San Diego for a historic first: all three national series—Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck—will compete on a street course built inside Naval Air Station North Island, part of Naval Base Coronado. The race weekend will be Father’s Day Weekend, June 19th-21st, 2026.
With Chicago’s Street Course off the 2026 schedule, rumors of a San Diego replacement gained traction. Now confirmed, the new event is more exciting than expected.
“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 NASCAR Senior Vice President Ben Kennedy. “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.”
To announce the event, NASCAR released a Top Gun: Maverick-inspired video featuring Cup drivers Chase Elliott, William Byron, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, Noah Gragson, and Carson Hocevar.
Project: Race the Base.
We’re bringing a different kind of speed to @USNavy Base Coronado in 2026. pic.twitter.com/A3mRh2x8bN
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 23, 2025
The Track: Naval Air Station North Island
The street course will run through Naval Air Station North Island—the birthplace of naval aviation and a location made iconic by the Top Gun films. Naval Base Coronado spans nine installations across Southern California, from San Clemente Island to Long Beach.
NASCAR has not released the track layout yet, but parts of the track will include parts of the Naval Air Station’s tarmac. The length will roughly be 3 miles.
“NASCAR embodies the very best of the American spirit through speed, precision, and an unyielding pursuit of excellence,” said Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan. “Hosting a race on this base is more than a historic first—it’s a powerful tribute to shared values like grit, teamwork, and love of country.”
“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,” added Captain Loren Jacobi. “We are honored to showcase the dedication of our Sailors alongside NASCAR’s finest.”
What an exciting location, combining an active military base with a new NASCAR venue. This race will be an exciting one to attend, and has the potential to be massive for the sport.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will race on Friday, June 19th, 2026. The Xfinity Series will follow, racing on Saturday, June 20th. The Cup Series will race Sunday, June 21st.
Craftsman Truck Series coverage will be on Fox. Xfinity Series coverage on The CW. Cup Series coverage will be on Amazon Prime.
Tickets will go on sale in the fall on NASCAR San Diego’s website.
Last Word On Motorsports will continue to update fans on any updates to NASCAR’s San Diego Weekend.
