Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Friday, June 19, 2026
NASCAR Launches Inaugural Race Weekend at Naval Base Coronado, Marking First Cup Event on Active Military Base
The NASCAR Cup Series opens a landmark race weekend at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego this weekend — the first time NASCAR has competed on an active United States military installation. The Anduril 250 Race the Base runs Sunday, June 21 at 4 p.m. ET on Prime Video, on a 16-turn, 3.4-mile temporary street circuit that winds through the base’s roads, routes competitors along jet runways, and uses helicopter-parking areas as pit road. The weekend coincides with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy and features a triple-header: Craftsman Truck Series on Friday, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on Saturday, and the Cup Series on Sunday.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski
Hamlin’s Three-Win Streak Cuts Reddick’s Championship Lead to 19 Points Before Road-Course Tests
Denny Hamlin arrives in San Diego as the NASCAR Cup Series’ hottest driver after winning three consecutive races at Nashville, Michigan, and Pocono. The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver has slashed Tyler Reddick’s championship lead from 129 points to just 19, with Reddick holding a 704-to-685 advantage. Hamlin’s streak pushed his career total to 64 wins, moving him past the late Kyle Busch into sole possession of ninth on the all-time wins list. The next two rounds — Naval Base Coronado and Sonoma — fall on road and street courses where Reddick has historically been the stronger performer.
Sources: Jayski, Motorsport.com
Jimmie Johnson Returns to NASCAR Cup at Naval Base Coronado, Racing Near His Southern California Hometown
Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will race Sunday’s Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado, driving the No. 84 Carvana Toyota for Legacy Motor Club — just miles from where he was raised. Johnson grew up in El Cajon, California, roughly 20 miles from the naval base. He will also run Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series event for Tricon Garage, his first Truck start since 2008. Johnson’s entry expands an already headlining Cup field that includes Trackhouse’s Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, and Connor Zilisch, plus open entries from Kevin Magnussen in Project 91 and Corey Heim.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski
Shane van Gisbergen Opens as Heavy Anduril 250 Favorite, Backed by Historic Road-Course Record
Shane van Gisbergen opens as the clear pre-race favorite at −160 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook for Sunday’s Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado. The No. 88 Trackhouse Toyota driver has won six of the last seven road and street courses on the 2026 schedule, and seven of his 14 career Cup starts on such layouts have ended in victory. His average finish of 6.71 on road courses ranks second all-time among drivers with at least four starts. Van Gisbergen also won both previous inaugural course events he entered, claiming victories at the first Chicago street race and the inaugural Mexico City race.
Sources: Jayski, FOX Sports
Former F1 Driver Kevin Magnussen to Make NASCAR Cup Debut at San Diego with Zero On-Track Experience
Former Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut Sunday at Naval Base Coronado, driving the No. 91 Qualcomm Technologies Chevrolet in Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 program. The 10-year F1 veteran, who made 185 career starts for McLaren, Renault, and Haas, heads into his debut with zero NASCAR on-track experience — his only preparation will be a 50-minute practice Friday before qualifying Saturday. Phil Surgen, Trackhouse’s director of technology, will call the race. Project 91’s last Cup appearance was the 2025 Daytona 500 with Helio Castroneves.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Motorsport.com
NASCAR vs. Navy Special Celebrates U.S. Military’s 250th Anniversary Ahead of Inaugural San Diego Race
A 30-minute special titled “NASCAR vs. Navy: The San Diego Mini Movie” is now streaming on Prime Video ahead of Sunday’s inaugural Anduril 250, featuring six NASCAR Cup Series drivers competing in physical challenges against United States Navy SEALs. The special arrives as the San Diego race weekend coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy. The event is staged at Naval Base Coronado, home of Naval Special Warfare Command. NASCAR Community Day on Friday opens the base exclusively to U.S. military members and their families, giving service personnel first access to the circuit before racing begins Saturday.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Naval Base Coronado Street Circuit Demands More Spotters Than Any Other 2026 Race as Teams Prepare for Blind-Spot Challenge
The Naval Base Coronado street circuit has driven teams to request more spotters than at any other event on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, with at least three dozen corner workers assigned due to blind spots and intricate sections on the 16-turn, 3.4-mile layout. Key turns carry names tied to military history: the Ellyson Start/Finish Line honors Commander Theodore Ellyson, Naval Aviator Number One; Carrier Corner at Turn 5 sits between two docked aircraft carriers; and Runway Road at Turn 14 runs adjacent to Halsey Field’s active runway. The circuit also crosses trolley tracks and transitions between asphalt surfaces laid at different times across the base.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski
Four Points Separate 16th from 17th in Chase Race as NASCAR’s Bubble Drivers Head to San Diego
The NASCAR Cup Series Chase bubble is razor-thin heading into San Diego, with just four points separating the 16th and 17th positions. Austin Cindric holds the final Chase transfer spot at 355 points, tied with Erik Jones at 355, with Jones 15th on the tiebreaker. Brad Keselowski sits 17th at 351 points after a DNF at Pocono dropped him below the cutline. Jones was the biggest mover at Pocono, jumping three spots. Shane van Gisbergen holds 14th with a ten-point cushion above the line. Ten races remain before the Chase opens after Race 26, giving bubble drivers little margin for error.
Sources: Jayski, Motorsport.com
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
After Race 16 — Pocono
1. Tyler Reddick — 704 pts
2. Denny Hamlin — 685 pts
3. Ryan Blaney — 539 pts
4. Chase Elliott — 509 pts
5. Ty Gibbs — 506 pts
6. Kyle Larson — 494 pts
7. Chris Buescher — 461 pts
8. Daniel Suarez — 450 pts
9. Carson Hocevar — 449 pts
10. Christopher Bell — 421 pts
11. William Byron — 415 pts
12. Chase Briscoe — 411 pts
13. Bubba Wallace — 394 pts
14. Shane van Gisbergen — 361 pts
15. Erik Jones — 355 pts
16. Austin Cindric — 355 pts
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota — 747 pts
2. Chevrolet — 650 pts
3. Ford — 528 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency