NASCAR headed for San Diego in 2026

NASCAR is headed for San Diego next season.

RACER has learned a deal has been reached for NASCAR to return to Southern California next year, and the announcement of the event could come as soon as next week. San Diego has been a rumored destination of the sport for the last few months, and RACER noted last week that Coronado has recently floated as the potential destination.

It is unclear where the exact location of next year’s race will be, or where it will fit onto the schedule. NASCAR is still working through potential returns to Mexico City and Chicago (pictured above), with the latter interested in extending its deal past the three year contract that recently concluded but at a different date on the schedule. NASCAR raced in Chicago in early July the last three years.

San Diego will fill the void of NASCAR not having run a points race in Southern Californian since 2023. Fontana, the site of the facility formerly known as Auto Club Speedway, fell off the schedule amid plans to turn the 2-mile oval into a short track. Those plans, however, were officially acknowledged as "paused" earlier this year by NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps.

The full 2026 schedule is not expected until the end of the summer or early fall.