A floating stage for racing
NASCAR’s latest broadcast experiment places the sport’s final Prime‑sponsored race aboard the USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear‑powered aircraft carrier moored at Naval Base Coronado in California.
The carrier, launched in 1980 and designated CVN‑70, has served in numerous conflicts and even participated in the historic burial‑at‑sea of Osama bin Laden. Its massive deck will now host the Anduril 250, the culmination of a five‑week series that has seen Prime act as the series’ exclusive broadcaster.
Play‑by‑play voice Adam Alexander will share the booth with former driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and analyst Steve Letarte, forming a trio that promises a fresh perspective from an unprecedented setting.
Alexander described the occasion as "unreal," noting that the sheer scale of the vessel and the surrounding activity make the experience unlike any traditional race weekend.
Earnhardt highlighted the novelty of calling the action from the carrier’s flight deck, emphasizing how the surrounding activity — aircraft movements, crew routines — adds a layer of excitement for viewers.
Letarte admitted that the environment can be "distracting, to say the least," but also expressed enthusiasm for the unique backdrop, which includes everything from steam‑turbine hums to the sight of fighter jets on standby.
The USS Carl Vinson displaces over 100,000 long tons of water, is powered by two nuclear reactors and four steam turbines, and can reach speeds of up to 30 knots. Its construction cost more than a billion dollars and it is named for a longtime U.S. House member.
Beyond its technical prowess, the carrier has been part of several key moments in American history, reinforcing its status as a symbol of naval power and heritage.