A Fast Start at the Coronado Test
NASCAR’s newest 3.4‑mile circuit on Naval Base Coronado opened its gates to the sport’s premier drivers this week, offering a rare chance to evaluate the layout before the highly anticipated race weekend.
Kyle Larson set the pace with a blistering lap of 1:16.588, edging out Todd Gilliland, who posted a 1:16.881, and Ty Gibbs, whose 1:16.924 placed him third. The early times hinted at a tightly contested field.
The practice session featured 39 entries, ranging from veteran names such as Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to rising talents like Connor Zilisch and Zane Smith. Each driver turned a handful of runs, allowing crews to fine‑tune setups on a track that blends road‑course nuance with oval‑style banking.
Among the notable performances, Carson Hocevar and Michael McDowell cracked the top five, while veteran Alex Bowman and rookie Ty Dillon also turned heads with sub‑1:17 efforts. The breadth of talent on track underscored the significance of the venue as a testing ground for future race strategies.
Implications for the Upcoming Race
With the practice complete, attention now turns to qualifying and the race itself, where the new track’s characteristics could produce an unpredictable finish. Drivers and crew chiefs will rely on the lap times recorded here to craft strategies that balance fuel, tire wear, and overtaking opportunities.