The Athletic reported today that NASCAR is in negotiations with the city of San Diego to run a major street-course race there, possibly in the 2026 season.
Provided it happens, it would be the first points-paying NASCAR event in Southern California since 2023 and another picturesque and competitive event to the Cup Series schedule.
There is still no final agreement on the table, but the people informed of the negotiations claim that the talks are progressing in a positive way. There may be a formal announcement as early as next month should a deal go through.
It would be the second contemporary street race in NASCAR since the success–but also the troubles–of the Chicago Street Course, which began in 2023 and is now in year three.
NASCAR Back to SoCal
NASCAR used to visit Southern California commonly. Cup Series events took place at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, one of the most popular speedways attracting fans throughout the years, until 2023. When the track was closed and the talks of turning it into a short track went down the drain, the NASCAR popularity in the region dwindled.
When the pre-season exhibition race Clash moved to the Los Angeles Coliseum in 2022 and 2023 as only a temporary solution and when the Clash was moved to North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina in 2025, there is now no NASCAR event on the calendar in the entire Southern California region.
That is all the more exciting about the San Diego talks. A street-course event in the colorful and scenic streets of the seaside city would bring NASCAR fandom back to the area- and give the sport a new dimension along with its versatile growing number of tracks.
How San Diego Street Race Might Turn Out to Be
No course layout has been verified yet, however, the opportunity to race through the streets of downtown San Diego would provide spectacular sceneries and a challenging driving experience. Picture palm trees, seafront access, acute angles, and miles of asphalt flanked by the most iconic buildings and you have a motorsport showcase in the centre of one of the most renowned cities.
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San Diego has not been deprived of the experience of hosting so-called big events and has the capacity to accommodate such a big weekend as a NASCAR Cup Series race. It has hotels and a good public transit system, and its pleasant, warm climate could make it an ideal NASCAR destination.
It would probably resemble the model of Chicago: an entire weekend of music, fan engagement, and dozens of racing series, as well as the Cup Series, in an urban environment.
The Increasing interest of NASCAR in Street Courses
The possible race in San Diego underscores NASCARs expanding interest in non-conventional racing tracks. In 2023, the Chicago Street Course made history by demonstrating that city racing can be made that attracts younger and more diverse audiences. Though the first weekend was a rainy affair, it did hold good television ratings and audience following.
Since that time, NASCAR has also been experimenting with its schedule adding more road and street courses to the mix. At present, five of the 36 points-paying races of the 2025 calendar are on road or street circuits, comprising races at Circuit of the Americas, Watkins Glen, Sonoma Raceway, the Chicago Street Course, and the latest entry, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.
Nevertheless, there are traditionalists that say NASCAR is a sport that should be centered towards oval racing as it is the core of the sport since its inception. A sixth road/street course in the mix may be the straw that broke the camel back in getting much more out of the classic high-speed oval action fans have come to expect.
It seems, however, that NASCAR is determined to change with the times. Fresh interest in the sport among younger audiences has been reported, and innovative courts in big cities might reflect the expansion plan.
What Does This imply on the NASCAR Schedule?
When it comes to adding San Diego on the Cup Series schedule in 2026, the most prominent question is, which race will be pushed off the schedule?
There are only 36 points-paying races per season, and by introducing a new event, it is likely that another may need to be dropped or rotated. NASCAR has not yet revealed its entire 2026 schedule, although the fate of other tracks such as the future of the Chicago Street Race and Mexico City may affect the niche of San Diego.
The race at Mexico City in 2025 was the first NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico; it was won by Shane van Gisbergen. Nevertheless, nothing is sealed yet with 2026, and one cannot say whether the series will be ever back.
In the meantime, Chicago has only secured three races (2023-2025) and nothing beyond the current season has been agreed. San Diego could be either an appendage or a substitute regarding the street-course category depending on weather, fan attendance and political interests in Chicago.
NASCAR and San Diego Keep Hush, at least so Far
NASCAR and Sports San Diego, the tourism and sports commission of the city, refused to comment on any details of the negotiations. Yet their quietness is not something unique at this point in the bargaining process.
Such big events are usually months in the making as the city councils, tourism boards, race promoters, sponsors, and television hosts collaborate to organize them. Before an official date is announced, road closures, safety, and logistics have to be planned.
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Nonetheless the buzz is growing and that is not without justification.
To the NASCAR fan, the prospect of seeing cars howling by the San Diego bayfront or up and down the old city streets is an exciting one. But to the city, the financial implications of a marquee event like this could be astronomical.
With NASCAR still on the expansion trail, both in terms of geography and imagination, San Diego could be the next big city to feel the shriek of engines going down its avenues.
