NASCAR arrives at the unique Qualcomm Circuit in Coronado
The 3.4-mile Qualcomm Circuit is finally taking shape, and frankly, the scale of it is something else. With the USS Carl Vinson serving as a backdrop, the track at Naval Base Coronado is a wild mix of textures, from fresh pavement to rough tarmac. Even the presence of trolley rails in the Turn 4 bend—designed for cranes, not race cars—adds a layer of unpredictability that you just don't see on a standard speedway.
Drivers spent their Thursday walking the layout, scouting braking zones and mapping out the narrow sections where the barriers tighten. Craftsman Truck Series regular Brenden "Butterbean" Queen, who admits he isn't typically known as a road course specialist, clearly felt the weight of the moment. "We really don't know till we get out there," he noted, though he was quick to emphasize how special it is to be competing on such a surreal site for America’s 250th anniversary.
It is fascinating to see the 23XI Racing teammates, Bubba Wallace and Corey Heim, already dissecting the nuances of the surface. We’ve had the sims and the iRacing sessions, but now the real work begins. Friday is the test—when the silence of the base is finally broken by the roar of the engines across all three NASCAR national series.
