sports
NASCAR Holds First Race at Naval Base Coronado
NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Ben Kennedy said the event drew over 125,000 fans and left open the possibility of future races at other U.S. military installations. The weekend marked the 250th anniversary of both the United States and the U.S. Navy.
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NASCAR held its first race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego over the weekend. Broadcast teams operated from the USS Carl Vinson, and race winners were transported to victory lane in a Humvee. NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Ben Kennedy said the event drew a total crowd of over 125,000 fans, 67 percent of whom had never previously attended a NASCAR race.
He noted that the weekend felt larger than any other event in 2026 except the season-opening Daytona 500.
Kennedy said the weekend experience left the door open for NASCAR to explore races at other U.S. military bases. He cited the Pacific Northwest and Northeast as strategic markets that already host large military installations. "It’s a great unifier for us," Kennedy said.
"It feels NASCAR authentically. Lines for food, drinks, and merchandise stretched for hundreds of feet when supplies ran short, and traffic moved slowly due to base security procedures. Kennedy said the event helped NASCAR reach new audiences while retaining its existing fan base.
He added that similar events typically perform well for two or three years.
