Race at the Base delivered. Now bring it back.

by Crystal Clay

Cover photo: Scott Haber

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — If NASCAR set out to prove that a race on an active military installation could work, mission accomplished.

Over three days at Naval Base Coronado, NASCAR San Diego Weekend drew more than 125,000 fans, welcomed thousands of first-time spectators to the sport and transformed one of the Navy’s most recognizable installations into one of the most unique venues on the NASCAR schedule.

By the time the checkered flag fell on Sunday’s Anduril 250, NASCAR officials were already discussing lessons learned and the possibility of returning to Coronado.

“We said from the start this is more than a race, this is a mission,” NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Ben Kennedy said following Sunday’s race. “I think we all looked around the room today and we said mission has been accomplished.”

The winning No. 67 car sits in Victory Lane beneath a “Mission Accomplished” display following the inaugural NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado on June 21, 2026. NASCAR officials later described the event as a “tremendously successful” weekend and expressed interest in returning. (Photo: Crystal Clay/Racing Refresh)

Kennedy described the inaugural event as a “tremendously successful event” and said NASCAR would welcome the opportunity to return, though no decision has been made regarding the future of the race.

“What I can tell you is we feel this is a tremendously successful event,” Kennedy said. “We would love to return.”

Kennedy pointed to several indicators of that success.

According to NASCAR, fans from all 50 states and 17 countries attended the event, with 67 percent experiencing their first NASCAR race. Female attendance was 11 percent higher than a typical NASCAR event, while Hispanic attendance was three times the series average.

“We also welcomed a lot of new fans this weekend, which is icing on the cake,” Kennedy said.

Attendance was intentionally capped at approximately 50,000 spectators per day as NASCAR worked through the logistical challenges of hosting an event on an active military installation. Throughout the weekend, officials adjusted operations in real time, adding food trucks and additional concession staff to improve the fan experience.

The event represented the latest step in NASCAR’s push toward non-traditional venues following successful ventures at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Chicago Street Course.

“We weren’t really in the street course business four or five years ago,” Kennedy said. “Chicago was probably the boldest evolution of that. This is the next iteration.”

Kennedy said NASCAR will conduct a comprehensive after-action review with the U.S. Navy before determining whether the series will return to Coronado. The organization will evaluate what worked, identify areas for improvement and discuss future opportunities with Naval Base Coronado leadership.

The success of the weekend may also influence NASCAR’s future expansion efforts. Kennedy noted that military installations in markets such as the Pacific Northwest, Colorado and the Northeast could present opportunities for similar events down the road.

“Sports bring people together,” Kennedy said. “It’s a great unifier for us. It feels authentically NASCAR.”

For now, NASCAR’s focus remains on reviewing its first trip to Naval Base Coronado. But after a weekend that combined racing, military partnerships and a substantial influx of new fans, the strongest takeaway may be that Race at the Base proved it belongs on the schedule.

And if the numbers, atmosphere and enthusiasm from both NASCAR and the Navy are any indication, plenty of people would welcome a return.