Zilisch set for Hendrick Motorsports move
Connor Zilisch to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2028, driving the No. 48 Chevrolet; stays in No. 88 for 2027.
NASCAR is returning to San Diego in 2027.
For the second consecutive season, drivers in the top-level Cup Series and second-tier O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will race around Naval Base Coronado, navigating a 16-turn, 3.4-mile Qualcomm Circuit road course.
The Cup Series race will be held on Aug. 1, while the O’Reilly race will run the day before on July 30.
Additionally, NASCAR said in a news release that its partnership with the Department of Defense will continue for years to come. In 2028, NASCAR intends to hold a street course race at a different U.S. military installation.
“Our partnership with NASCAR gives us a unique national platform to honor the men and women who serve, strengthen connections with military families and communities, and showcase the mission and values of our Armed Forces,” U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a statement. “Our vision is bigger than a single race or location. By bringing this event to different military installations in the years ahead, we can reach more service members across the country and build an enduring tradition that celebrates courage, commitment and elite performance.”
This season was the first time NASCAR had ever held a race on an active U.S. military base, and the reception the sport received in southern California was overwhelmingly positive with a sold-out crowd.
In the O’Reilly Series race in San Diego this year, Austin Hill took the checkered flag, marking the first victory for Richard Childress Racing since the death of Kyle Busch. The next day, 23-year-old Corey Heim won his first Cup Series race in the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing, winning by a wide margin over teammate Bubba Wallace in the Anduril 250. Heim, who is racing part-time in the Cup Series this season, followed that performance up by winning the Brickyard 400.
NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series also ran at Naval Base Coronado this season with Layne Riggs taking the checkered flag in a star-studded race that also featured seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jamie McMurray, Kaz Grala, Brendan Gaughan, Adam Andretti and Justin Marks. The Truck Series won’t return to the Naval Base in 2027, instead racing on that weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario for the first time since 2019.
The Cup Series race at Naval Base Coronado was full of collisions and excitement. Three contenders were knocked out of the race in a multi-car crash on the 32nd lap as Hill, battling with Connor Zilisch for the lead out of a restart, seemingly missed Turn 1, and Shane van Gisbergen slammed into his rear, sending Hill into Zilisch.
Van Gisbergen, the 37-year-old from New Zealand who is second all-time in NASCAR history in road course wins with eight, was widely seen as the favorite in the race before crashing. Now, he’ll get a second crack at winning there.
This season’s race at Naval Base Coronado also featured former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen clashing with Noah Gragson, a feud that boiled over on pit road after the race. Magnussen finished 27th in his NASCAR debut but notched the fastest lap of the day.
“What we experienced this year — the incredible racing, the energy from our fans and the partnership with the U.S. Navy and the San Diego community — showed just how special this event can be,” said NASCAR San Diego President Amy Lupo. “We are grateful for the opportunity to build on that momentum, and we are fully committed to improving the experience for our fans. Together we will create another unforgettable weekend that celebrates the San Diego region, NASCAR, and most importantly, the brave sailors who selflessly serve our country.”
The Cup Series race in 2027 will air on TNT and HBO Max, while the O’Reilly race will be broadcast by the CW with a streaming option available via ESPN Unlimited.