Two years of anticipation and planning are over.
Cars and trucks hit the track Friday in the historic NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado.
The U.S. Navy and America’s premier racing series have come together to co-host the first-ever races on an active military base as a way of celebrating the Navy’s and the nation’s 250th birthday.
“What better way for us to salute the United States and the Navy on this great anniversary,” said Steve O’Donnell after becoming NASCAR’s CEO two months ago. “NASCAR is delighted and excited to be part of this event.”
There will be races for three straight days on the 3.4-mile, 16-turn temporary road course that winds past aircraft carriers, parked jets and helicopters of Naval Air Station Coronado and residential sections of Naval Base Coronado.
The course itself is historic. It is one of the longest in NASCAR history. And no previous circuit has had 16 turns. The circuit crosses five different types of surfaces, from recently repaved sections to grooved concrete sections of tarmac and runway to surface streets.
“Everything about this course, this race is going to be a challenge,” NASCAR Cup series veteran William Byron said recently. “But if you are making history with an event, why not have it that way? Force the winner to be a true champion.”
“That we’re even doing this is wild to think about,” said three-time Cup series champion Joey Logano. “As a group, NASCAR is excited to be part of this. No one knows what will happen.”
While Friday afternoon’s 50-lap race for the Craftsman Trucks Series and Saturday’s secondary O’Reilly Auto Series’ 60-lapper appear to be wide open, there is a distinct favorite in Sunday’s Anduril 250 for NASCAR Cup cars.
New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen has won seven of the 13 NASCAR Cup races on road courses and temporary street courses since arriving in the United States as the Australian Super Car champion.
“’SVG’ changed the equation on road courses,” seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson said Thursday. “It’s just a different skill set.”
NASCAR Cup Series driver, Shane Van Gisbergen speaks to the media at the NASCAR San Diego course simulator (SIM) at the Naval Base Coronado on June 09, 2026 in Coronado, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Some believe van Gisbergen’s secret is how he works the pedals with his heels and toes. Others believe it’s just his feel for the car. But van Gisbergen brakes deep into turns and accelerates quicker coming out of them. He routinely passes in sections of road courses where other drivers don’t try.
“He’s created his own level of respect,” said Johnson. “If you see him coming, you don’t try to block him. He’s going to go by. There’s a better chance that you could make a mistake.”
Last month on the Watkins Glen road course in upstate New York, van Gisbergen put on a late-race charge that was almost as historic as this weekend’s event. Due to a mistimed pit stop, SVG was 29.2 seconds behind the leader and in 26th place with 24 laps to go on a track where passing is historically difficult.
Van Gisbergen took the lead with seven laps to go and coasted to a 7 ¼-second victory.
About the only person who doesn’t see van Gisbergen as the favorite to beat in Sunday afternoon’s main event is van Gisbergen himself. “There are just so many unknowns to this track,” he said.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series No. 81 Chevrolet which is driven by Kris Wright is wrapped for the night in preparation for NASCAR San Diego races on June 18, 2026 in Coronado, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Unknowns usually tip the scales even more in the direction of van Gisbergen. And if not him, who?
The leading candidates would be season points leader Tyler Reddick and versatile Mexican road racer Daniel Suarez. The wild-card picks would include Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott and Mike McDowell.
Driving for the team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan, Reddick opened the season with a NASCAR-record three straight wins, including the Daytona 500 and the road race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
McDowell finished second to van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen. Suarez became the first Mexican driver to win a NASCAR Cup race on the road course at Sonoma in 2022 and has twice finished third at Austin.
During two visits to San Diego this month, van Gisbergen has also spent time with Team New Zealand, which has been using San Diego as its basecamp for the World Cup soccer tournament. He hosted the team for dinner and will host members at the track on Friday.
Navy 250
What: NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series
When: 4 p.m. Friday
Where: Naval Base Coronado
TV: Fox Sports 1
Track: 170 miles (50 laps; Stages of 12, 12, 26 laps)
Practice: 9 a.m. (40 minutes), 10 a.m. (40 minutes)
Qualifying: 11 a.m.-noon
Other key events:
• NASCAR Cup Series practice, 2 p.m. (50 minutes)
• NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice, 12:30 p.m. (50 minutes)