NASCAR Cup Series: NASCAR Bringing Race To San Diego Naval Base In 2026
Updated Jul. 23, 2025, 11:17 a. vip ph slot loginm. ET
Bob Pockrass, FOX Motorsports Insider
CORONADO, Calif. x777 casino login register philippines app apk — NASCAR is set to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy in a unique way—by hosting a race on a naval base. NASCAR Cup Series drivers will compete on June 21, 2026, on a yet-to-be-finalized course at Naval Base Coronado. This thrilling weekend will also feature a Craftsman Truck Series race on June 19 and an Xfinity Series race on June 20.
“This is another historic moment for our sport,” said NASCAR Executive Vice President Ben Kennedy. The upcoming event will be the first NASCAR points race in Southern California since 2023, taking the place of the Chicago Street Race in the 2026 schedule, although it will not occur during the July 4 weekend.
The concept of racing on a military base has been discussed for several years in NASCAR scheduling meetings, and Kennedy expressed that it felt like “such a natural opportunity for us to explore.”
“We’ve talked to several military bases,” Kennedy noted. “This one was a really good fit for us. We felt like it was a great opportunity to reconnect with our fans in the Southern California market.”
The course is expected to be approximately three miles long and will use the tarmac and apron areas of the runways, but likely not the runways themselves. Kennedy, who oversees NASCAR’s scheduling and new events, mentioned that the design will aim to minimize disruptions to base operations 777 ph bet.
NASCAR anticipates welcoming “tens of thousands” of fans to the event, which will feature general admission tickets that allow attendees to explore various temporary grandstands and military displays. Temporary suites will also be constructed for the occasion. NASCAR is partnering with Sports San Diego to promote the event, which is currently scheduled as a one-year deal.
“We’d love to kick this off and establish a lasting presence at Naval Base Coronado, but there’s also potential for us to explore other military installations across the country,” Kennedy explained.
The addition of the San Diego race introduces another dynamic to the evolving 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. This event will be the 17th of the Cup schedule (the last race televised by Prime), meaning that NASCAR has 20 weekends available for the remaining 19 races, with the season finale already announced for November 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The details regarding the off-weekend and the rest of the schedule—apart from the preseason Clash on February 1 at Bowman Gray Stadium and the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 15—are still being finalized. NASCAR will not hold a race on the streets of Chicago in 2026, although a future return is possible.
Could the off-weekend coincide with the July 4 holiday mwplay888 login password? NASCAR has a long tradition of racing on this weekend, particularly at Daytona, until the race was moved to the regular-season finale in August in 2020. “More than likely, we’ll have an event on that weekend; we just aren’t sure exactly where it will land yet, but it is an important part of our schedule,” Kennedy stated regarding a possible July 4 weekend race.
Additional new venues for the 2026 schedule remain to be seen. Since NASCAR will not race on the streets of Chicago, there are considerations for a race at Chicagoland Speedway in nearby Joliet. Last week, NASCAR announced plans to engage in discussions with Chicago politicians to potentially return the street race in 2027 on a date separate from the July 4 weekend.
“It’s an incredibly significant market for us,” Kennedy affirmed about Chicago. “We’re optimistic about reinstating it to the schedule in 2027 and beyond.” If NASCAR reintroduces Chicagoland prior to returning to the Chicago streets, the specifics regarding that race are yet to be determined. Baseball is still in discussions for a return to Mexico City next year, preferring a spring date around the likely Easter off-weekend, well before the World Cup.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports, boasting decades of motorsport coverage experience with over 30 Daytona 500s under his belt, and has worked with ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine, and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal majestic caloocan photos. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
What do you think about NASCAR’s exciting new plans for 2026?
