admin NASCAR announced Tuesday that it is returning to Naval Base Coronado in 2027, with both the Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series racing the Southern California course for a second consecutive year.
Additionally, NASCAR announced plans to hold more races at military sites beginning in 2028. NASCAR chief operating officer Ben Kennedy said that decision was made after speaking with Secretary of Defense (War) Pete Hegseth during this year’s inaugural race weekend at Coronado.
“He obviously loved the event, enjoyed the event and that helped spur conversations around what the future relationship might look like with them,” Kennedy said. “So we agreed in 2028 we’re going to go to another military installation as a part of a long-term plan as we think about rotating these. …
“Still remains to be seen where and what and when those other locations might look like, but (NASCAR has) already been digging into a number of different markets that we feel like are priority markets for us to be in that we frankly don’t have a large presence in today, along with just iconic installations that everyone knows of.”
This file photo shows a race during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California. Photos: File/AFP
Corey Heim picked up his first career Cup win in the inaugural Cup race run at Coronado, the Anduril 250, on June 21.
One change will be the timing of the race, as the 2027 race in Coronado will be run Aug. 1, making it the championship round of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge — a five-race midseason tournament with 32 drivers competing for a $1 million prize.
NASCAR also announced the Craftsman Truck Series would not return to Coronado after racing there this year, replacing the stop with a September race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Clarington, Ontario.
Reuters
