Drivers will be racing on Naval Air Station North Island in June on a 3.4 mile street course creating an exciting event for drivers and fans.

SAN DIEGO — Rady Children’s Hospital got an extra dose of excitement on Wednesday as NASCAR drivers made a special visit to young patients, delivering stuffed bears, activity books, and plenty of smiles.

Drivers, including Christopher Bell, spent time going room to room, sharing laughs and moments of encouragement with kids undergoing treatment. Bell said the experience left a mark on him.

“It was really heartwarming, honestly. I’ve got the coolest job in the world, being a race car driver, and when you walk in there in your fire suits, seeing the kids light up… we’re essentially mascots,” Bell said.

Bell will be one of the competitors in this June’s highly anticipated NASCAR event, where he’ll race alongside El Cajon native Jimmie Johnson. The race will make history as the first ever held on Naval Air Station North Island, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the event.

“The drivers don’t even know what to expect. So expect the unexpected,” Bell said. “It’s going to be an absolutely wild event. A great race. It’ll be a first-time-ran track, a little bit of a street course, so there’s going to be a lot of action, a lot of crashes, and a lot of hurt feelings, which makes for great entertainment.”

The course will feature 16 turns across 3.4 miles, and the timing is intentional — the event happens just weeks before the nation celebrates its 250th birthday. Leaders on base say the race represents far more than competition or logistics.

“I would argue it’s really about bringing people together,” said Capt. Loren Jacobi, Commanding Officer of Naval Base Coronado. “It’s a huge opportunity to bring together a diverse crowd and learn from each other, and to really celebrate what makes this place great.”

To add to the anticipation, a lottery was held on base to pair sailors with NASCAR drivers for meet‑and‑greets before the race. But as for which sailor picked the winning driver? Bell says that’s impossible to predict.

“You don’t know who the favorite is going to be,” he said. “Literally all of the drivers, all of the teams, are learning on the fly, and honestly it makes it more exciting because you just genuinely don’t know who is going to win the race.”

The historic race is set to bring high-speed thrills, community spirit, and a patriotic kickoff to the summer — both on the track and beyond it.