Very few drivers would ever imagine driving a racing car inside a U.S. naval base. However, NASCAR's upcoming San Diego race to Ryan Preece of RFK Racing is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Speaking with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio host Mike Bagley ahead of the Pennzoil 400 weekend, Preece couldn’t hide his excitement about the rare experience awaiting drivers later this year.

Bagley asked Preece how special it felt to race on a naval base in San Diego. “How cool is that?" Bagley added. And for Preece, the moment carries both excitement and gratitude.

“Yeah, that’s going to be exciting,” Preece responded. “You know, I think having the opportunity to go out there, we’re going to visit a children’s hospital as well as there’s some sort of a draft that we’re going to be a part of.

He further added, “But yeah, being able to race around the naval base, I mean, who can say they’ve done that in their lifetime? I don’t know anybody that can.”

The Connecticut native also praised NASCAR’s collaboration with the U.S. Navy in bringing the event to life.

“Grateful that NASCAR has found a way… to work with the United States and the Navy to make this happen,” Preece added.

The collaboration has already begun taking shape. In a ceremony in Coronado, Christopher Bell, Ryan Preece, and Ty Dillon represented the NASCAR Cup Series garage as drivers received their Navy squadron assignments for the NASCAR San Diego Weekend.

Meanwhile, Active-duty Navy officer and part-time NASCAR driver Jesse Iwuji also attended briefly during his U.S. Navy training and said he looks forward to his unit, ACB-1, cheering on the drivers.

Both drivers and fans will be delighted by the San Diego event as it uniquely combines motorsports with military history -something that even the most experienced NASCAR racers hardly ever encounter.

Donald Trump Unveils ‘Freedom 350’ Race for Washington D.C. Street Track

The thought of a race happening right in the center of the capital of the United States is attracting attention right away.

The "Freedom 350" will be held on a temporary street circuit in Washington, D.C., and it is envisaged that the route will go around the National Mall as part of the country's 250th Independence anniversary festivities in 2026.

Instead of a usual racing circuit, the course would be made of closed city streets near the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, and several Smithsonian museums.

This is precisely what makes the idea so unique. Motor sports hardly ever happen with historical monuments as the background.

If it moves forward, the event would bring high-speed racing right into one of the most symbolic areas in the United States, giving fans a setting that’s very different from the usual racing calendar.

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi