NASCAR heads to the Qualcomm Circuit for a unique military base showdown

Battlestations, indeed. After leaving the familiar asphalt of the Pocono Raceway, the NASCAR Cup Series is doing something truly wild: racing on a 3.4-mile street course at the Naval Base Coronado in California. It is a total unknown for the entire field, marking the very first time any of NASCAR’s national series have touched this tarmac.

Keep your eyes on the entry list, which features 39 cars ready to tackle this unique layout. We will see seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson back in the fray, piloting the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota. Also, it is stunning to see Kevin Magnussen joining the grid as the Trackhouse Racing Project 91 entry. Given that Shane van Gisbergen is the most recent driver to conquer a street course in this series, the pressure to adapt quickly is massive.