NASCAR close to a deal for a road course race in San Diego
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The city of San Diego may soon enjoy a new attraction as NASCAR is rumored to be interested in relocating to the West Coast.
A recent development indicates that the city of San Diego will soon host a NASCAR race.
There are multiple reports, though nothing is final as of yet. An official announcement is expected in the next week or so.
Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado appears to be the venue, as the event is scheduled to take place next June during Father’s Day weekend. It will be a road course containing several twists and turns. Being that it is on the Naval Base, there is plenty of open space to customize the track as needed.
The race will replace an event in Chicago for the 2026 season. NASCAR is pausing the road course in Chicago for the moment. The race in Chicago took place throughout the city. And though it was fun to watch, the dynamics of pausing a city to hold a racing event were too much for NASCAR. They needed an alternative.
They found an adequate replacement.
With views of the bay, the Coronado Bridge, and the San Diego skyline, this may be one of the best venues for a NASCAR race in the sport’s history. NASCAR is growing tremendously, and coming to a larger, West Coast city helps bring in new fans to the sport.
Though there is a rich history of racing in the city, San Diego has never hosted a NASCAR event.
The last time NASCAR was so close to San Diego was in the 80s when they raced annually at Riverside International Speedway. The final NASCAR Cup Series race at Riverside International Raceway was the Budweiser 400, held on June 12, 1988, and was won by Rusty Wallace. The road track closed shortly after. It is now a strip mall and a housing complex.
From 1997 to 2023, the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, hosted NASCAR races. However, that event is now on pause, and rumors suggest that the track will be converted into a short-track, effectively ending its use for NASCAR.
The window is open for San Diego to host this annual race. The revenue from this event will be huge for the city.
Stay tuned as an announcement is expected soon with details of the event.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.