NASCAR will make a historic return to Southern California in the summer of 2026 with a race at the Coronado Naval Base in San Diego. The event, expected to be officially announced this Wednesday, will mark a bold new chapter for the sport.

The Athletic was the first to report in June that NASCAR had been negotiating with the city of San Diego to host a race at the base. The event will fill a spot on the schedule left open by the departure of the Chicago Street Race, which was held near Grant Park for three years but will not return in 2026.

This will be the first points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race in Southern California since 2023, when the series last competed at the 2-mile oval in Fontana. The track, formerly known as Auto Club Speedway, is currently inactive as NASCAR’s planned conversion into a short track remains incomplete.

Bringing the sport to a military base in one of the nation’s most picturesque cities, NASCAR continues its push for innovation and unique fan experiences. The Coronado event promises to deliver a one-of-a-kind setting for stock car racing.

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