San Diego Braces for Traffic Ahead of NASCAR Race

The inaugural NASCAR street race will run from Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21 at Naval Base Coronado. All ticketed attendees must present a valid government ID and a digital parking pass to enter the base. Parking is confined to base lots, which open at 7 a.m.; gates admit vehicles at 9 a.m. No public parking exists in Coronado.

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Mayor John Duncan and Caltrans District 11 lane-closure manager Tom Davis are the officials coordinating the event. Coronado and the Naval Air Station each house about 21,000 residents and workers. Typical bridge traffic is about 100,000 vehicles daily; an extra 50,000 visitors are expected, raising total to roughly 150,000. Caltrans will post signage along a 25-mile stretch from the I-5/I-805 split to I-905.

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All ticketed vehicles must use base parking lots, which open at 7 a.m.; security checkpoints require ID and digital passes, prompting officials to advise arrival at least four hours before race start. Ride-share, public transit, carpooling, and biking (helmet required) are encouraged. Local hotels are sold out and restaurants operate at full capacity, indicating an economic boost but heightened demand on services.

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Mayor Duncan noted that sold-out hotels and full restaurants suggest a boost for local businesses, while emphasizing that early arrival is essential. Caltrans confirmed extensive signage and lane-closure plans across the 25-mile corridor to manage congestion. Officials warned that the combined commuter and race traffic could produce ‘big delays’ throughout San Diego, especially given ID checks at entry.

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• “Sometimes we have up to 100,000 cars drive across Coronado back and forth in one day anyways. However, a lot of those people are still going to be coming, AND we're going to have an additional 50,000 visitors,” — John Duncan, Mayor of Coronado

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• “If you're not here, in my opinion, four hours before race time then you're going to be stuck in some very heavy traffic,” — John Duncan, Mayor of Coronado

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• “We do major closures a lot, but this will draw a lot of people so, yes, the volumes we expect will have big delays around the city,” — Tom Davis, District 11 lane-closure manager, Caltrans

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• “We have them as far north as the I-5 and I-805 split, and then we have them as far south as I-905,” — Tom Davis, District 11 lane-closure manager, Caltrans

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Attendees should obtain digital passes early, use ride-share or public transit, and bike with helmets to avoid delays. Caltrans will deploy street signs warning of potential delays throughout the weekend.

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