A first-timer's observations about Naval Base Coronado, in words and photos
It was amazing, surreal and moving. The weekend told through bad cell phone pictures.
“A race weekend on an active naval base” probably seemed like a Herculean and borderline impossible task when first presented. A lot of ideas start like that. That is until they’re accomplished successfully on a picture-perfect weekend in honor of the United States Navy and America’s 250th birthday.
Not gonna lie – it was a lot to take in, but in the best way possible. America’s largest Navy installation playing host to an absolute banger of a race weekend chock full of sights you’ve never seen before. Without further delay, a few images out of the photo roll from the weekend. This is not professional photography – just a dude on a naval base with an iPhone 17. Enjoy.
Driving across a giant airfield en route to the parking lot, past a whole fleet of navy helicopters, placed there so that all of us nerds could get every Schwarzenegger “GET TO DA CHOPPA!” out of our system before even entering the gate.
It’s like the Monaco GP if all the bajillion-dollar yachts were giant, hulking sea leviathans that made you pee a little bit just by looking at them.
This incredible setup meets you at the gate. It’s a work of art, meant to depict Shane van Gisbergen out front. And behind the car, what everyone else thought they had to drive in order to be faster than him.
For zoomed out visual reference, that piece of land in the middle of the bay there is Naval Base Coronado. Inside that base is a 3.4-mile road course. Taken from what would be the worst spotters’ stand imaginable.
I know it was divisive when it happened but I do think that moving the numbers forward on the unarmed combat aerial drones in order to leave more space for the sponsor logos was a good idea.
Last weekend, Lemans, France. This weekend, Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. Jimmie Johnson makes you want to be a race-car driver just so you can then retire from racing full-time because race-car-driver retirement allows you to hop the globe like Carmen Sandiego.
“Because they won’t let us drive their Humvees around the base. THAT’S why.”
So many military aircraft and vehicles out on display, including this one that really needs to seriously lay off the lip filler.
Once he gets a few Craftsman Truck Series starts under his belt, this Jamie McMurray fellow could move up to the Cup Series. Maybe even win the Daytona 500.
So many great paint schemes to commemorate the occasion. I like to think that when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, they had a bald eagle with a cheesesteak in its mouth in mind.
Not only can we put a road course inside a naval base, but we can put another road course inside the road course on the naval base.
A helpful addition for folks attending their first NASCAR event – a poster explaining all of the flags used during a race. Although had we known what would happen, we probably would have made the red one a lot bigger. And put it first.
Being this close to an aircraft carrier is equal parts awe-inspiring, and even a little intimidating. The deck is the perfect spotters’ stand, in my opinion – elevated with great views of the road course. No railing. If your spotter falls off well then you’ll just have to deal with it until the rescue divers are deployed.
This should provide a good idea of how downhill the track runs between Turns 1 and 2. No wonder they were getting enough air to qualify as naval aviators.
Pit road and the front stretch early in the morning. Basically our runway. Tremendous view of the San Diego skyline in the background. Don’t mind the sky – San Diego experiences weather phenomenons the locals call “The May Grays” and “The June Gloom,” in which moisture gets trapped near the ocean, leading to a consistently gray and overcast sky. “May Grays” and “June Gloom” also describe the last two months of Connor Zilisch’s season.
A pace truck ridealong was like a roller coaster, and the width changes in the track were wild. From “barely enough room for two cars side by side” in some spots to “Ikea Parking Lot” in others.
The different zones of the track were accessible via tram or on foot, if you didn’t mind walking and closing a few exercise rings. I hope they knew if they put something up like this, we’d all view it as a challenge, much like when Apple Maps says “You’ll arrive at 4:34 p.m.” so you mash the throttle and yell “NOT IF I MAKE IT THERE AT 4:32 P.M., COMPUTER.”
This event is apparently the fashion trend of 2026. You’re gonna see this merchandise everywhere. No Hot Girl Summer is complete without a “RACE THE BASE” shirt.
Before that unfortunate incident in Turn 1, we all basically thought the only way to even the playing field was for Shane van Gisbergen to race with this thing still on his car.
Other methods of transportation were used also, such as Noah Gragson’s wheels right here. Compared to the little push scooters, Noah looked like one of the Sons of Anarchy.
Throughout the weekend, I met so many service men and women that were excited and thankful for this huge event on their base. I was sure to thank each one profusely, not only for the kind words, but also for their service to our great nation. But I only booped one of them on the nose.
Just want to shout out whoever arranged this viewing spot at pit entry. Literally perfect. So close to the last pit stall, and perfect for inhaling the tire smoke when the stop was over and they peeled off of pit road. That’s not a joke. Race fans know, love and appreciate that smell. An iconic bouquet that we wish White Barn Candle Company could properly re-create.
This here is the path from the Green Zone (where the start/finish line was located) to Carrier Corner (where the aircraft carrier was located, obviously). One huge benefit to road courses is the ability to wander and catch the race from different vantage points. Do you want to see a tight left-hander with heavy braking? Let’s go to Turn 2. Do you want to see fast straight-line speed? Sit on the front stretch. Do you want to take a selfie with a driver in his race car? Go to wherever Sheldon Creed is stopped.
You cannot beat this proximity to the cars. The denizens of San Diego could sit close enough to look at the windshields and wonder why the hell there were windshield wipers on the car when it was 76 degrees without a cloud in the sky. IT’S CALLED AERO, OK?
So true story, NASCAR was like “We should race 10 feet from an aircraft carrier” and then “Also at some point we should race 10 feet from a Starbucks” but I was like “Hold up, we can do that on the same weekend.”
As happy for the service members who could get this close to Corey Heim’s first career Cup Series win as I am for Corey Heim, to be honest.
Denny Hamlin the driver has cut Tyler Reddick’s once insurmountable points lead down to a mere 8. Denny Hamlin the team owner won the race. Both of Denny Hamlin’s personalities had a great day at Naval Base Coronado. Congratulations, Dennys.
It’s great to have an unforgettable weekend every now and then.
These pictures only begin to capture how big this race really was. Couple this with the visits that teams made on active ships and we get a window into the lives of our Navy heroes. If you get a chance, look up RFK’s submarine pictures. Unbelievably cool to view what are arguably the most impressive weapons in the US arsenal.
Love them all tks for sharing