NASCAR’s first-ever race weekend at Naval Base Coronado delivered plenty of storylines on the track, from Corey Heim’s breakthrough Cup Series victory to Tyler Reddick’s late-race heartbreak.
Off the track, however, the inaugural San Diego event attracted a guest list that looked more like a major championship weekend than a first-year race.
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NFL stars, Hollywood actors, music artists, military leaders and sports legends all made appearances as NASCAR brought the Cup Series to Southern California for the first time. The celebrity turnout served as another sign that NASCAR’s newest event succeeded in attracting attention far beyond its traditional fan base.
Travis and Jason Kelce
Among the most recognizable faces at the event were brothers Travis and Jason Kelce.
The future Hall of Famers spent time around the race weekend as NASCAR welcomed two of the biggest names in professional football to Coronado. Travis Kelce’s appearance came during a busy weekend that also included a stop at a Dave Chappelle show later Sunday night in San Diego.
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Their presence generated significant attention across social media and helped bring even more mainstream visibility to NASCAR’s newest venue.
Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was also spotted at the race.
Mahomes spent part of the weekend visiting with Kyle Larson’s No. 5 team, giving NASCAR another high-profile connection to one of the biggest stars in sports.
Between Mahomes and the Kelce brothers, the NFL was well represented throughout the weekend.
Drew Brees
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees played an official role during the event.
The Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee served as Grand Marshal for Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Series race, making him one of the weekend’s featured guests.
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Brees has long maintained ties to motorsports, and his appearance added another recognizable name to an already impressive lineup.
Trevor Hoffman
San Diego baseball icon Trevor Hoffman also participated in the festivities.
The Hall of Fame closer and Padres legend served as the Honorary Pace Car Rider, giving the hometown crowd a familiar face as NASCAR arrived in Southern California.
Few athletes are more closely associated with San Diego sports than Hoffman, making his involvement a natural fit for the inaugural event.
Scott Eastwood
Actor Scott Eastwood was among the celebrities spotted during pre-race activities.
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The actor’s appearance added a Hollywood connection to the event and further highlighted NASCAR’s efforts to make the San Diego weekend feel bigger than a traditional race weekend.
Marshawn Lynch
Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch also attended the event.
The Oakland native and Super Bowl champion has become a familiar presence at major sporting events, and he was among the notable guests participating in pre-race festivities.
Why NASCAR’s San Diego Weekend Was Bigger Than One Race
The celebrity turnout was only part of the story.
NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Ben Kennedy revealed that approximately 125,000 fans attended the weekend. Fans traveled from all 50 states and 17 countries, while 67% of attendees were first-time NASCAR ticket buyers.
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According to NASCAR, the event also attracted a higher percentage of female attendees than a typical race weekend and roughly three times the number of Hispanic attendees compared to other NASCAR events.
For a first-year race, those numbers may be just as significant as anything that happened on the track.
When NASCAR announced it would bring the Cup Series to Naval Base Coronado, there were plenty of questions about whether the event would work.
One weekend later, the combination of a packed crowd, national attention and a celebrity guest list featuring stars from football, baseball, entertainment and government suggests the sport may have found one of its biggest new events.
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