NASCAR at Coronado and IHRA Triple Crown Leg 1: The (Very Weird) Weekend That Was

NASCAR’s Coronado weekend—run outside San Diego at the 3.4-mile Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado—delivered an unusual three-race schedule with multiple surprises. The action began Friday with the Forged by the Sea 250 in the Craftsman Truck series, continued Saturday with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Driven to Serve 250, and concluded Sunday with the NASCAR Cup series Anduril Race the Base 250. The track, carved out of the naval base, was described as closer to a fast, conventional road course than a short, tight street circuit, and it attracted drivers aiming to be first winners at the venue, including seven-time (semi-retired) Cup champion and team owner Jimmie Johnson from nearby El Cajon. The series’ Sunday sponsor, Anduril, is tied to autonomy and surveillance technologies and is known for defense-focused systems.