In a move that no one saw coming, NASCAR will be turning Naval Base Coronado into a full-blown racetrack for Father’s Day weekend, 2026. That’s right, from June 19 to 21 in summer next year, stock cars will tear across an active military base down in San Diego, in what is shaping up to be one of the most patriotic, cinematic race weekends in NASCAR history. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as this once-in-a-generation event also coincides with the Navy’s and the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations.

The racing lineup? Nothing short of impressive. As a fan, you can expect all three premier NASCAR divisions, i.e., Craftsman Trucks, Xfinity Series, and the Cup Series, going full throttle on a custom hybrid circuit . Picture V8s tearing past hangars, downtown San Diego in the distance, Point Loma rising behind the coastline, and Navy warships lining the harbor, providing a spectacular backdrop for the race.

So, how did this event come to be? According to Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s executive VP and chief innovation officer, the idea began as a moonshot, and after years of pushing boundaries with races inside stadiums like the LA Coliseum and downtown street circuits like Chicago, the league’s next big leap has to be bold: race at a military base. 

Coronado, the birth place of U.S. Naval Aviation with its panoramic views, urban access, and strong military ties, became the obvious choice. NASCAR spent two years planning, collaborating closely with iRacing to design and test the layout virtually, and working hand-in-hand with Navy leadership to bring the vision to life.

While the exact track layout remains under wraps until this fall, officials hint at a unique course with “neighborhoods” where fans can explore more of the facility, some along the base, others near tarmac zones with views of aircraft carriers, military aircraft (hopefully some F/A-18 Super Hornets are in station), and the open SoCal water. One minute you’re hearing the scream of stock cars, the next you’re staring out at Coronado’s breathtaking horizon city skyline to one side, battleships to the other. The fan experience will be immersive, patriotic, and unlike anything else in motorsport.

Tickets officially go on sale this fall, but deposits are already being accepted at NASCARSanDiego.com. Friday will kick off with a Military Day featuring service members front and center, followed by two days of racing open to all. Expect NASCAR at Coronado to be loud, fast, and unforgettable; a celebration of speed, service, and the American spirit.

Source: NASCAR

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, July 24, 2025) – Fans attending Brickyard Weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which features the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, are encouraged to “Plan Ahead” through IMS.com/PlanAhead, an interactive web page that serves as a home base for fans heading to the track this weekend.

The “Plan Ahead” page features detailed information about the entire fan experience at IMS, including directions, parking, schedule, gate regulations, digital ticket and parking guides, ADA accessibility and much more.

More Fan Information

All Speedway patrons should be aware of the following to ensure a successful day at the track:

Tickets:

Tickets for Brickyard Weekend are available for purchase at IMS.com.

• Friday, July 25: $25 for General Admission seating to see NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series practice. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.
• Saturday, July 26: $45 for General Admission for Pennzoil 250 qualifying and race and Brickyard 400 presented by PPG qualifying in the infield viewing mounds only. Flex seating locations are available in Southwest Vista (1-10), H Stand (1-6), Northwest Vista (16-20) and North Vista ADA (Section 26-30) for $64 per adult. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult in General Admission and Flex seating locations. Reserved seats range from $64-144.
• Sunday, July 27: $50 for General Admission for the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG in the infield viewing mounds only. Flex seating locations are available in A Stand, Southwest Vista (1-10), H Stand (1-6), Northwest Vista (16-20), North Vista ADA (26-30) and Tower Terrace (75-78) for $69 per adult. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult in General Admission and Flex seating locations. Reserved seats range from $64-194.

Public Parking:

Parking for Brickyard Weekend is available in a variety of locations inside and around the track. Parking can be purchased on-site or in advance. Race fans can visit IMS.com to purchase available parking passes.

Friday Parking

• Free parking is available in Lot 7 (North 40) and Turn 3 Infield. Race fans can enter through Gate 2, or Gate 10 from 30th Street. Free ADA parking is available in Lot 7 (North 40) and the infield in the Tower, Flag and West Museum lots. Motorcycle parking is free in the South Carousel Lot.

Saturday Parking

• Free parking is available in Lot 7 (North 40). Race fans must enter through Gate 10 from 30th Street.
• Paid parking is available in Lot 1B, Lot 2, Lot 3G and Main Gate for $20, Turn 3 Infield for $25 (prepaid only), Lot 6A for $40, Gate 1 (Parcel B) for $75 and Gate 1 Tailgating for $125. ADA parking is $25 for inside lots and $20 for outside lots. Motorcycle parking (pre-paid only) is $20 in the South Carousel Lot.

Sunday Parking

• Free parking is available in Lot 7 (North 40). Race fans must enter through Gate 10 from 30th Street.
• Paid parking is available in Lot 1B, Lot 2, Lot 3G and Main Gate for $20, Turn 3 Infield for $25 (prepaid only), Lot 6A for $40, Gate 1 (Parcel B) for $75 and Gate 1 Tailgating for $125. ADA parking is $25 for inside lots and $20 for outside lots. Motorcycle parking (pre-paid only) is $20 in the South Carousel Lot.

Cashless Operations:

IMS is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.

Pedestrian Gate Entry:

Friday

• Public pedestrian gates open: 1, 2, 4, 6S, 7, 7S, 10, 10A

Saturday

• Public pedestrian gates open: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6S, 7, 7S, 9, 10, 10A, 11A

Sunday

• Public pedestrian gates open: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6N, 6S, 7, 7S, 9, 10, 10A, 11A

Fans attending IMS for the Brickyard Weekend will pass through magnetometers as part of the gate entry process.

Cooling/Water Stations:

IMS will have cooling buses located in the infield on the corner of Fifth Street and Hulman Boulevard, on Hulman Boulevard near the 7th and Hulman spectator mound, inside East Chalet bay 7 and adjacent to Cagle Lane behind the Northwest Vista. There will also be five water bottle filling stations located throughout the facility on Race Day in Turns 1, 2 and 4, as well as behind Tower Terrace and in the Garage Area.

The Rule The Road Fan Midway:

The Rule the Road Fan Midway features several exciting, fan-friendly activities, including autograph sessions with selected NASCAR drivers. The Midway, located in the infield behind Tower Terrace, will be open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Click here for more information.

IMS Museum:

General admission tickets for the IMS Museum are $25, seniors (55 and over) are $23, and military (former and active) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at https://imsmuseum.org/tickets/. Museum hours for Brickyard Weekend:

• Friday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Weekend Street Parking:

Parking restrictions in the Town of Speedway will be enforced during Brickyard Weekend. No parking will be allowed on the south and east sides of any street bound by 25th Street on the north, Georgetown Road on the east, Lynhurst Drive on the west and Crawfordsville Road on the south from 6 p.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday.

Click here for more information on weekend street parking restrictions in the Town of Speedway.

Road Closures:

Race fans should be aware of multiple road closures before making their way to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Brickyard Weekend. Those include:

• Speedway Police Department will close Georgetown Road to vehicular traffic south of 25th Street one hour before the start of the Pennzoil 250 on Saturday, July 26 and one hour before the start of the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG on Sunday, July 27.
• Speedway Police Department also will close 16th Street between Olin Avenue and the roundabout one hour before the start of the Pennzoil 250 and the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG. Additionally, 16th Street will not be accessible from Polco Street, as it will be blocked at 10th Street. Traffic traveling east on Crawfordsville Road from the west will be turned around at the 16th Street roundabout. Traffic traveling west on 16th Street from downtown will be diverted south on Olin Avenue.

Additional Resources and Information

Drivers can learn the locations of work zones and highway restrictions by viewing an online map here or visiting @TrafficWise on X.

No coolers larger than 18 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches can be brought into the facility, which will be strictly enforced. Fans will be allowed to bring one cooler and one standard backpack or book bag per person.

For more information regarding access to IMS, visit IMS.com. For additional information, follow on X the Indiana State Police @IndStatePolice, the Speedway Police Department @SpeedwayPD or listen to radio stations WFNI-FM 107.5/WFNI-AM 1070 or WIBC-FM 93.1.

The Speedway Police Department can be reached for non-emergency services by dialing 311 on a cell phone. The goal of 311 is to provide an easy-to-remember number for non-emergency services while freeing up 911 lines for timely emergency response.

Source: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

SAN DIEGO (July 23, 2025) – In celebration of the 250th anniversary of United States Navy, NASCAR will once again make history by hosting a brand-new street race at Naval Base Coronado as a highlight of the 2026 schedule. NASCAR San Diego will be a three-day full-throttle race weekend headlined by the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, on June 19-21, 2026.

“As part of our nation’s 250th anniversary, we are honored for NASCAR to join the celebration as we host our first street race at a military base, Naval Base Coronado,” said Ben Kennedy, EVP, Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer. “NASCAR San Diego Weekend will honor the Navy’s history and the men and women who serve as we take the best motorsports in the world to the streets of Naval Base Coronado.”

This second-ever Cup Series street course will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2026 and will be the first NASCAR event on an active military base. Bringing the full NASCAR National Series along for the celebration, the Cup Series event will be preceded by high-energy races for the Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races on Friday, June 19, 2026 and Saturday, June 20, 2026. The official NASCAR San Diego street course layout will be unveiled in the near future.

“NASCAR embodies the very best of the American spirit through speed, precision and an unyielding pursuit of excellence. Hosting a race aboard Naval Air Station North Island, the birthplace of naval aviation, it’s not just a historic first, it’s 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. We’re proud to open our gates to the American people, honor those who wear the uniform, and inspire the next generation to step forward and serve something greater than themselves.”

Naval Base Coronado, known as the “West Coast Quarterdeck”, is a consortium of nine Navy installations stretching from San Clemente Island 50 miles off the coast of Long Beach, CA to the Mountain Warfare Training Facility 50 miles east of San Diego. Naval Base Coronado supports the Navy’s mission by providing force generation infrastructure to support our Nation’s warfighters while delivering exceptional quality of life and wellness services for our Sailors and their families.

“As Commanding Officer of Naval Base Coronado and on behalf of the United States Navy, it’s an honor to partner with NASCAR at NAS North Island as part of our 250th anniversary celebration,” said Captain Loren Jacobi. “Hosting one of America’s premier motorsports events on this historic base reflects our partnership with the local community and our shared pride in the nation’s heritage. We are privileged to showcase the dedication of our Sailors alongside NASCAR’s finest as we celebrate our 250th anniversary.”

The NASCAR San Diego logo features an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which is recognized as only being flown by the U.S. Navy. The three stars in the logo signify land, sea, and air, which represents the Navy as the only branch of the military to operate in all three spaces.

The arch represents the mission-style architecture found in San Diego. The stripes at the bottom of the logo represent the four largest United States Armed Force branches: Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy.

Today, NASCAR named Amy Lupo the NASCAR San Diego President. Lupo brings a proven track record of driving results with more than 25 years of success delivering unforgettable fan experiences at high-profile sporting events. Since joining NASCAR in 2021, Lupo helped launch the innovative and first-of-its-kind Clash at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif., and has been instrumental in supporting other new NASCAR events.

Prior to NASCAR, Lupo spent more than 20 years at ESPN where she played a central role in the evolution and expansion of the X Games as well as leading global marketing efforts across all branded properties and ensuring a seamless synergy across ESPN and Disney platforms.

Internationally, Lupo served as event director for X Games events in Tignes, Munich, and Sydney, overseeing all facets of planning and execution for the globally televised competition, and supported X Games events in 14 nations globally. Lupo has deep personal ties to her favorite city, San Diego, as she lived in-market early in her professional career and continues to live in Southern California.

“This a huge win for San Diego and we are so grateful to NASCAR for their partnership,” said Mark Neville, CEO, Sports San Diego. “Without a doubt, the NASCAR San Diego Weekend will have a significant and favorable impact on San Diego’s tourism and hospitality industry. On top of that, being the first ever NASCAR race on an active military base is going to be quite the spectacle and you can’t beat Naval Base Coronado.”

NASCAR is partnering with Sports San Diego on operational and promotional support for the NASCAR San Diego Weekend. Sports San Diego is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with a purpose to drive visitor demand to economically benefit the San Diego region through producing, recruiting, supporting, and hosting world-class sports events. San Diego has hosted some of the largest events and most iconic brands in the world, including the Super Bowl, X Games, MLB All-Star Game, U.S. Open, Breeders’ Cup, and more.

NASCAR San Diego now joins that illustrious history. Learn more at sportssandiego.org.

NASCAR San Diego’s Cup Series race will be the final race of Prime Video’s five-race broadcast window for 2026. The Xfinity Series race will air on The CW and the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race will be broadcast by FOX Sports.

Tickets for the 2026 NASCAR San Diego Weekend will go on-sale this fall. Tickets are expected to go fast, so fans can put down a deposit for advance pricing today at NASCARSanDiego.com. Additional details and elements of the weekend will be announced soon, and fans can follow @NASCARSanDiego on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest real-time updates on all aspects of the event.

The remainder of the 2026 schedules for the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will be announced in the near future.

CONCORD, N.C. – When the NASCAR Cup Series took to storied Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994 for the inaugural Brickyard 400, things had never been much bigger for stock car racing. 

An estimated 300,000 people flowed into the gates to watch the sport take to the hallowed grounds for the first time and witnessed a thriller. 

While Jeff Gordon had won his first race earlier that season in another crown jewel event, the Coca-Cola 600, perhaps his legend really began that day on August 6, 1994, as he notched one of the biggest victories in NASCAR history. 

Obviously, the Hendrick Motorsports campus is home to many trinkets from that day and who better than our own resident archivist, Sam Ulrich, to help us dig up a few!

Included is a copy of the following day’s Indianapolis Star, a trophy presented to team owner Rick Hendrick containing spark plugs from the race, a “Best Hands Award” given to the No. 24 pit crew by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsman and, an original hat from victory lane that day. 

Quite an assortment. So much in fact, ol’ Sam’s willing to part ways with a particular piece but only if you can match wits with him in this week’s trivia quiz!

RELATED: Check out Kyle Larson’s Zac Brown Band paint scheme for Vegas!

Yep, you read right. See that white hat inscribed with the Brickyard 400 logo? One of the ones handed out to the team after Gordon finished off his historic run? 

It can be yours. Here’s how:

Take the trivia quiz featured above. Be among those to complete the test with the highest score and be automatically entered into a drawing to not only win the hat, but have it sent right to your front door. 

RELATED: NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings entering Indy

Easy, right? 

Well, nothing about Sam’s trivia expertise is ever easy, but good luck!

Remember that entries are limited to one per device. The quiz will close at 11:45 p.m. on Monday, July 28. 

Tristan McKee, the inaugural signee of Spire Motorsports’ driver development program, will make a pair of ARCA Menards Series starts in 2025 behind the wheel of the team’s No. 77 Gainbridge Chevrolet SS.
 
Five days after turning 15-years-old, the minimum age requirement to compete in an ARCA Menards Series national event, McKee will make his debut at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in the August 8 General Tire 100 at the Glen. He will return to the Gainbridge Chevy in November for the ARCA Menards Series West season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
 
“Tristan McKee is one of those rare young drivers who makes you lean in and pay attention,” said Spire Motorsports President Bill Anthony. “He’s shown talent, maturity, and the kind of work ethic that earns respect across our organization. We’re excited to get him some seat time in the ARCA Menards Series and let him grow at the right pace. Watkins Glen and Phoenix will be great tests, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do in Spire colors.”
 
McKee is a full-time competitor in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli CUBE 3 Architecture TA 2 Series, where he leads the series’ championship point standings by a handsome 82 points on the strength of one pole position, two wins and six podium finishes.
 
He has finished the past six events inside the top three, including his first-career win in June at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In the division’s most recent stop at Watkins Glen International, the Williamsburg, Va., native set a track record en route to his first-career pole position before leading the field from flag to flag to secure his second-career win.
 
“I’m super excited for my debut to be on a road course,” said McKee. “I’ve been doing a lot of road course stuff through the Trans Am Series. We were just at Watkins Glen a couple weeks ago with the series and got the win, so I feel comfortable with the track. I had the opportunity to do some testing in the ARCA car, so it helped get me up to speed with the car, but I still have a lot of preparation to do over the next couple weeks in the simulator and my pre-race routine. I’m super thankful to Spire Motorsports and Gainbridge for making this happen and I’m really excited to get on track.”
 
McKee is a regular participant in the Josh Wise-led fitness and training program at the GM Technical Center in Concord, N.C. He began turning heads three years ago when, at just 12-years-old, he won a 100-lap CARS Pro Late Model Tour feature event at Dillon (S.C.) Motor Speedway to become the youngest winner in CARS Tour history. The upstart teenager went on to collect series wins at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway, Caraway (N.C.) Speedway and Cordele (Ga.) Motor Speedway.
 
Despite his youth, McKee has a resume dotted with wins that would offer even the most seasoned veteran with justifiable bragging rights. In addition to his historic 2023 win, he recorded multiple late model stock car victories in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. McKee also collected the checkered flag in the limited late model feature at the 2023 Fall Brawl at Hickory (N.C) Motor Speedway. The season prior, McKee claimed both Rookie of the Year and championship honors at Orange County (N.C.) Speedway as an 11-year-old.
 
Prior to his ascent to the late-model ranks, McKee cut his teeth racing Bandoleros where he won the 2020 national championship, a Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Summer Shootout championship and a Thursday Night Thunder Championship at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He began his four-wheel journey in karting where he collected 44 wins and six class championships.
 
In addition to his full slate of Trans Am racing, McKee has made 13 late model starts in 2025. After finishing second in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour season opener, he captured the checkered flag at the series’ first appearance at Cordele Motor Speedway. He has tallied four top fives in seven CARS Late Model Stock Tour starts, highlighted by a second-place result at North Wilkesboro, a race that was part of NASCAR’s All-Star festivities in May. McKee made his Super Late Model debut last weekend during the Summer Showdown 200 at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., where he battled the best of the Northwest Super Late Model Series to earn a runner-up finish at “The Superspeedway of the West.”
 
“The season has definitely gone really, really good so far,” added McKee. “We have a couple Trans Am wins, lead the points and have a podium in each of the last six races. We haven’t been at all the CARS Tour races, but we have put together a lot of good runs. It has been one of the best years of my career, so far. It is all preparing me to drive different cars because I am doing something nearly every weekend. This is just another discipline for me to learn, grow and become the driver I want to be. I think we will be really strong.”
 
Spire Motorsports has fielded an ARCA Menards Series entry three times this season with Corey Day at the controls. After Day was involved in a race-ending incident in the team’s inaugural appearance in the season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, he collected back-to-back ARCA West Series top-10 finishes at Phoenix Raceway (10th) and Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway (seventh).
 
The General Tire 100 at the Glen from Watkins Glen International will be televised live on FS2, Friday, August 8 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 13th of 20 races on the 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and ARCARacing.com.

Spire Motorsports PR