Navy, NASCAR Began Planning First Race at Naval Base Coronado Two Years Ago

The historic partnership between the United States Navy and NASCAR will hit a crescendo this weekend as part of the racing series’ “Race the Base” event that celebrates a pair of 250th birthdays.

The event, taking place from June 19 to 21 at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, Calif., marks the first time a NASCAR points race will be held on an active military base. The 16-turn, 3.4-mile Qualcomm Circuit will be cheered on by passionate fans as races unfold all weekend on a course that will host all three NASCAR national series events.

It’s a project that was originally envisioned in 2024, Capt. Loren Jacobi, commanding officer of Naval Base Coronado, told Military.com.

“NASCAR San Diego Weekend brings two American institutions together, the Navy and NASCAR,” Jacobi said. “NASCAR pitched the idea two years ago, and we saw an opportunity for a mutually beneficial event.

“This is about more than car races. This is about celebrating the Navy’s and the nation’s 250th birthdays. It’s about telling the stories of our sailors and their families in a new and innovative way. Plus, it’s an opportunity for the public to see the Navy up close and personal, in a way they might not be able to otherwise.”

NASACR Senior Director Jeremy Casperson said in a June 12 conference call that one of the challenges throughout the past two years involved both sides meeting in the middle in terms of their aspirations and logistics.

“One of the difficult things is we speak a language, NASCAR does, and the Navy—rightly so—speaks their own language,” Casperson said. “And trying to learn their language and exactly how it translates to our language and vice versa, it’s been a learning process. I think we’ve made really good strides and we feel like we’re in a great spot.”

The event will exude “patriotism, competition and unity,” Jacobi said. Fan zones inside the racetrack will feature family-friendly interactive activities and amenities, Navy demonstrations and displays, driver introductions, and special appearances.

Why Naval Base Coronado Made Sense

Hosting a NASCAR race in sunny California is far from unusual.

But beyond the climate and scenery, Naval Base Coronado made sense for this momentous occasion for other reasons as well.

“The selection of Naval Base Coronado is deliberate, placing this national celebration on the very grounds that serve as a launchpad for naval power and a testament to the critical role our Shore installations play in fleet readiness,” Jacobi said. “Naval Base Coronado was selected as the site for this historic race not only for its scenic beauty but for its significance as the ‘Birthplace of Naval Aviation.’

“Hosting the race at NAS North Island pays tribute to over a century of naval air power and innovation that began right here, with commands such as Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Fleet Pacific, Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Naval Special Warfare Command, as well as a number of support commands such as Amphibious Construction Battalion One, Personnel Support Detachments, and Fleet & Family Support, and MWR.”

Putting on such an event has been a big lift, literally.

NASCAR said in a press release that track walls were first laid on June 1 with work on track layout running through June 17. Barriers and fencing on both sides of the course equate to 6.8 miles of wall and fence, including 3,184 barriers all installed by June 17.

That translated to 17 consecutive work days coupled with garnering outside assistance. Amy Lupo, president of the NASCAR San Diego project, said in a press release that NASCAR partnered with Formula One’s Las Vegas Grand Prix on barriers and fencing, involving 25 trucks a day working around the clock to meet timelines.

Of course, an event of this magnitude and on a military base involved complex security arrangements. The specifics have been tight-lipped.

“We don’t discuss specific force protection measures, tactics, techniques or procedures,” Jacobi said. “However, I can say months of planning have gone into this event. Any large public gathering requires careful planning, and we approach security with that mindset.

“We have comprehensive measures in place and are working closely with federal, state and local partners to provide a safe environment for everyone attending.”

NASCAR Driver Helps USO

Beyond the roaring engines and pageantry, NASCAR drivers are also accelerating their efforts off the track.

On Saturday afternoon, Alex Bowman—driver of the No. 48 Ally/USO Chevrolet vehicle—and volunteers will pack 1,000 USO care packages with toiletry items and snack foods for deployed service members. Bowman, whose car features a red, white and blue design co-branded with primary sponsor Ally and the USO, will race on Sunday.

The USO distributed 435,000 care packages in over 100 countries in 2025.

“For eight years running, we have proudly stood alongside the Ally 48 team to support the USO with over 20,000 care packages for our service members,” said Bridget Sponsky, executive director of brand, sponsorship and creative marketing at Ally, told Military.com. “It’s a tradition I hold close to my heart.

“But this weekend in San Diego feels bigger. As NASCAR makes history by racing on an active military base at Coronado, it’s an even more meaningful moment to show our gratitude. We believe in doing it right, and that means ensuring our troops always carry a piece of home with them.”