The NASCAR street course on Coronado’s Naval Air Station North Island will be a 16-turn, 3.4-mile circuit with sharp corners and a series of quick turns around the military installation to give the drivers a challenge during the race scheduled in June.
According to Matt Humphrey, who does track communications for NASCAR, it will be NASCAR’s longest track on the circuit’s 2026 schedule.
Renderings of the course were made public by NASCAR on Oct. 21, outlining the start and finish line near Fourth Street, a “Carrier Corner” between the docks of two aircraft carriers and “Runway Road” located near the north end of Runway 18/36 at Halsey Field.
“It’s so exciting to finally share the street course layout and provide this first look for our long-time and new fans,” said NASCAR San Diego President Amy Lupo in a press release. “We can’t wait to see how the best drivers in the world meet this challenge, while celebrating America’s Navy.”
NASCAR races may feature as many as 40 cars that hit speeds of 200 mph. Grandstand seating and hospitality will be available throughout the circuit, according to the release.
The start and finish line will be named after Cmdr. Theodore Ellyson, whose training at North Island laid the foundation for its commissioning as a naval air station in 1917, and its eventual recognition as the birthplace of naval aviation.
The street course will also provide a star-spangled backdrop to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy.
Three races will be held at the track from June 19-21. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race will be on June 19, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will be on June 20 and the Cup Series will finish off the weekend on June 21.
The event kicks off with Navy Community Day on June 19, with plans to honor the military, and will be open exclusively to members of the U.S. Navy at Naval Base Coronado along with a limited number of Coronado residents. The day will end with the Truck Series race, reads the release.
Ticket holders from the general public will be welcome June 20 and 21. Deposits for pre-sale tickets are available at NASCARSanDiego.com starting Oct. 23, and tickets will go on sale on Nov. 7.
