NASCAR’s New San Diego Street Race Channels A Bit Of Top Gun Energy

In yet another case of the latest worst kept secret in sports, NASCAR confirmed Wednesday they will stage a street race in San Diego next June.

But this won’t be just another street race, something NASCAR showed they could pull off in Chicago. The sport will be trading checkered flags for sea legs and not only stage a street race but for the first time a race on an active military base. The event will be held on Naval Base Coronado, an operational Navy complex better known for launching aircraft carriers and training elite forces than hosting NASCAR stock cars. Until now.

The three-day event will feature all three of NASCAR’s national series and will no doubt have quite a Top Gun vibe. After all, some of the most famous Top Gun scenes were filmed in the same place that Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott will be fighting for spots in less than a year. It’s all part of the United States Navy’s 250th anniversary celebration.

“This is a powerful tribute to the values we share: grit, teamwork, and love of country,” said Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan. “From the flight deck to the finish line, this collaboration reflects the operational intensity and unity of purpose that define both the United States Navy and NASCAR.”

The Cup race, set for Sunday, June 21, will be the first inside the secure perimeter of a fully operational military base—an environment that comes complete with F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, 32,000 military personnel, perhaps the most intimidating track marshals in history.

Broadcast duties for the event are being split across NASCAR’s partners: the Cup race will close out Prime Video’s five-race broadcast slate for 2026, while the Xfinity Series heads to The CW and the Truck Series lands with FOX Sports.

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The announcement marks another aggressive—and rather bold—move by NASCAR to expand its reach with unconventional venues and novel partnerships. From the LA Coliseum to downtown Chicago, and now onto a Navy base, the series is doubling down on spectacle. And when it comes to spectacle, nothing quite says “American motorsport” like full-throttle NASCAR race cars echoing off a hangar full of fighter jets.

“This is the first time we’re taking NASCAR racing to the heart of an active military base,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Executive VP of Racing Innovation. “We’re honored to be part of the Navy’s 250th celebration, and we’re ready to deliver a race experience unlike anything fans—or service members—have ever seen.”

The course layout will be revealed at a later date, though one assumes it will be slightly more forgiving than an aircraft carrier’s arresting cable system.

Overseeing the project is Amy Lupo, newly appointed president of NASCAR San Diego. Lupo’s background includes more than two decades at ESPN, where she helped globalize the X Games, and she was instrumental in launching the Clash at the Coliseum in LA. She also brings local experience—Lupo once called San Diego home and still resides in Southern California.

“This is a huge win for San Diego,” said Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego, which is working alongside NASCAR on the event. “This will have a major impact on the region’s tourism industry—and frankly, you can’t beat Naval Base Coronado for a backdrop.”

Meanwhile, one has to wonder if Tom Cruise just perked up somewhere and asked his agent, “Is there still time to get the Maverick car on the grid?”