Over 100,000 people and 40,000 vehicles are expected to come to Coronado over NASCAR’s race weekend, and that has meant months of preparation for the city’s police and fire departments.
NASCAR’s partnership with the U.S. Navy for the country’s semiquincentennial is on June 19-21, and there are a few things for Coronado residents to look out for – for those going to the event or those just trying to navigate their home for the weekend, like “no-parking” signs and 53-foot trucks coming to town.
In addition to the city and Navy, NASCAR has also been working with California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).
The police and fire departments have been working since September of last year and they’ve outlined four phases the city is going through as it prepares for race weekend.
Phase One
Phase one is in full force as a couple-dozen flatbed trucks have been entering and leaving Naval Air Station North Island every day since May 15 to bring the track, barriers and grandstands in.
Police Chief Paul Connelly said the trucks, which are transiting between Las Vegas and Coronado, will continue to come during non-busy hours to avoid rush-hour traffic.
Phase Two
Phase two will involve minor parking changes that some residents will need to adjust to.
The NASCAR team hauler trucks will be arriving from June 16-18. Hauler trucks are custom-built, low-boy-style 18-wheel tractor trailers that serve as a race team’s mobile garage and headquarters, Connelly explained.
These 53-feet rigs transport race car spare parts, tools and team personnel across the country.
A total of 29 team trucks will come the evening of June 16. On June 17, 121 team haulers will show up, and 40 team haulers arrive June 18.
However, these trucks have an extremely low clearance at only 6 inches off the ground. This means the police department had to find a specific route that would work for the trucks to avoid dramatic dips in the road.
Connelly said they mapped out the low-boy trucks to go right on Glorietta Boulevard after coming off the bridge, take a left on Second Street, a right on A Avenue and then a left on First Street up to the carrier gate.
For the left- and right-hand turns on all these streets, there will be “no-parking” signs in some locations so the trucks have enough space to make turns.
Phase Three
Phase three covers the arrival and departure of fans. Parking lots open at 7 a.m. and gates open at 9 a.m every day of the event. All parking for NASCAR events will be on base, not in the city, and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Color-coded electronic tickets will guide attendees to the designated areas. A yellow ticket means entering through the carrier gate and a red and green ticket means entering through the main entrance.
Attendees can leave at any point but will not be allowed re-entry.
Race times are between 4-6 p.m. on June 19, 2-5 p.m. on June 20 and 1-5 p.m. on June 21.
Attendees need to bring a state-issued photo ID and, if they are not a U.S. citizen, a passport also will be required.
A list of permitted and non-permitted items, such as weapons and nonprescription drugs, is available at coronado.ca.us.
For those who live on base or need to access North Island outside of the event, City Council member Amy Steward recommended the Ocean Boulevard gate.
The North Island commissary and exchange will be open, but the gym will be closed all three days.
CalTrans will be adjusting the barrier wall, also known as the zipper, on the Coronado Bridge.
On the 19th, there will be three inbound lanes from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m and then three outbound lanes from 4 to 10 p.m.
On the 20th and 21st, there will be three inbound lanes from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and three outbound lanes from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Security
The Highway Patrol and Police Department will have traffic reaction teams set up on the days of the races.
Public safety remains our highest priority … We are confident that appropriate measures are in place to support a safe and secure event.
Police Chief Paul Connelly
“Public safety remains our highest priority,” Connelly said during a June 2 City Council meeting. “We are confident that appropriate measures are in place to support a safe and secure event.”
The chief added that emergency response from the police department within the city itself, outside of NASCAR, will remain fully operational during race days.
Apart from a few representatives from the Coronado police and fire departments, all municipal personnel will be working in the city.
Security on North Island will include San Diego police officers, San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies and state and federal law enforcement, according to Connelly.
There will also be 17 advanced life support ambulances on base from the Federal Fire Department.
“All of our fire department resources that we’re upstaffing are dedicated to the city of Coronado, not to the event itself,” Fire Chief Jayson Summers said, explaining that there will be additional fire engines and ambulances in the city as well.
The city’s emergency operations center will be activated during the race, and the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services will be monitoring, Summers said.
The California Office of Emergency Services will be activated as well because of the FIFA World Cup that will be taking place at the same time as the race.
Phase Four
Phase four will be the racetrack and barrier load out.
After each race day, around 50 team-hauler trucks will be packing up and leaving the base via Fourth Street to the bridge. They will leave after all attendee traffic has subsided, said Connelly.
When the event finishes on the 21st, flatbed trucks will return to break down the track and barriers over the next three or four weeks. For more information, visit www.nascarsandiego.com/faqs and https://www.projectcoronado.org/nascar-2026.
