NASCAR is gearing up for a return to Southern California, with reports confirming that San Diego will host NASCAR in 2026.
The event is expected to take place at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, marking the first time the city has ever welcomed NASCAR’s premier series.
Multiple sources indicate that an official announcement will be made within the week, with the race scheduled for Father’s Day weekend next June.
The location promises to deliver a spectacular setting, featuring panoramic views of San Diego Bay, the Coronado Bridge, Point Loma, and the downtown skyline.
This new event is set to replace the Chicago Street Race on the 2026 calendar. NASCAR has announced that the Chicago race will “hit pause in 2026 to afford us the time necessary to work collaboratively with the City of Chicago to explore a new potential date, with a goal to return to the streets of Chicago in 2027.”
The Chicago event became a fan favourite after its dramatic debut in 2023, where New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen made headlines by winning the inaugural race in his Cup Series debut, something no driver had done since Johnny Rutherford 60 years earlier.
Driving for Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91, van Gisbergen made a bold charge through the field to secure a historic victory.
Since then, the Kiwi star has continued his dominance on street and road courses, claiming wins in the inaugural NASCAR event in Mexico earlier this year, and repeating success in Chicago (in both Xfinity and Cup Series) and at Sonoma.
With the San Diego layout expected to be a technical road course with ample design flexibility, van Gisbergen would no doubt enter the event as a favourite.
The San Diego race will be the first NASCAR points-paying event in Southern California since the closure of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, which last hosted in 2023.
While NASCAR has recently competed in Southern California through exhibition events at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, San Diego offers a new and untapped market for the sport.
Although San Diego has never previously hosted a NASCAR race, the region has a legacy in stock car racing. Riverside International Raceway, located about 90 minutes away, was a mainstay on the NASCAR calendar until 1988.
That track closed shortly after Rusty Wallace won the final Budweiser 400 there. With Auto Club Speedway’s future uncertain and the West Coast left without a permanent race, San Diego presents a timely opportunity.
The open space and scenic surroundings of the naval base make it an ideal location for a custom-designed road course, and the potential economic impact on the city is expected to be substantial.
While final details on the track layout and supporting events remain under wraps, anticipation is building fast.
An official announcement confirming the event is expected soon, as NASCAR continues to evolve its schedule and expand its fan base on the West Coast.
