Denny Hamlin recently shared his thoughts on NASCAR’s 2026 Cup Series schedule changes, focusing on the newly announced street race at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado. This event will replace the Chicago Street Race, which NASCAR has hosted annually for the past three years. The organization has described the change as a “pause” in Chicago’s participation, with the possibility of returning as soon as 2027.
On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin expressed mixed feelings about the move, acknowledging his preference for Chicago but also welcoming the new opportunity in San Diego. He praised the promotional efforts for the upcoming race, considering them to be “really good.”
Hamlin Weighs the Business and Racing Implications of San Diego
Although Hamlin admitted some sadness about leaving Chicago, he views San Diego as a strong alternative, particularly from a sponsorship standpoint. Returning to Southern California presents promising business prospects for his team and partners. The race’s nearly three-mile route is unfamiliar to him, and he remains curious about how the challenges of the long street course will unfold during the event.
“I’m excited to go to San Diego,”
Hamlin said.
Certainly, if we were going to stay on the streets somewhere, I’ve advocated that I’d like Chicago. I think we should stay at Chicago. They’re going to work out whatever deal they’ve got with the city there. Maybe, hopefully. I wouldn’t count on it. I think it was more of a soft breakup than anything.
“We’re back in Southern California again,”
he added.
That should be good for our sponsors.
“I’m going to stay positive about it because it looks like it’s going to be very cool,”
Hamlin continued.
And certainly, the city is one that is a great place to go.
Details of the Historic San Diego Event
The San Diego race will take place over three days, from June 19 to 21, 2026. It will be the first NASCAR event conducted on an active military base, marking a unique milestone for the sport. This new street race also marks NASCAR’s return to Southern California, following the Clash events at the LA Coliseum held from 2022 to 2024.
NASCAR Executive Vice President Ben Kennedy highlighted the significance of the race in a recent announcement, describing it as potentially
“the best sporting event of the year.”
He emphasized the versatility of NASCAR drivers and the diversity of the schedule, which includes a wide variety of track types across the sport.
“I think it emphasizes the fact that not only we can race literally anywhere in the world, but that we have some of the best and most versatile drivers in all of motorsports as well,”
Kennedy stated.
“It’s the most diverse schedule that we have in our sport, and I would argue the most diverse schedule across all of motorsports when you consider the different amounts of track types that we race at.”
Looking Ahead: What the Shift Could Mean for NASCAR
This transition to San Diego carries both opportunities and uncertainties for NASCAR, its drivers, and fans. While Hamlin’s remarks reveal some wistfulness about leaving Chicago behind, they also reflect cautious optimism for what lies ahead in Southern California. The race at Naval Base Coronado may attract new local audiences and sponsor interest, building on NASCAR’s growing presence in street racing formats.
As the schedule changes unfold, the potential return of the Chicago Street Race remains open, suggesting that NASCAR could maintain a flexible approach to venue selection in the coming years. For Hamlin and his peers at Joe Gibbs Racing, adapting to different track types will continue to be an important challenge and opportunity within a demanding and evolving Cup Series calendar.
