Honorary Starter for Anduril 250
Pete Hegseth, the newly appointed Secretary of War, will serve as the honorary starter for the inaugural Anduril 250 NASCAR Cup Series race at Naval Base Coronado, marking the first time a Cup event is staged on an active military installation.
The race is scheduled for Sunday, June 21, and will run a 255‑mile, 75‑lap street course that winds around the 3.4‑mile track off the coast of San Diego. Coverage will be carried live on Amazon Prime beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Rear Admiral Rich Jarrett, a senior Navy officer, has been named grand marshal for the accompanying Craftsman Truck Series event, the Navy 250, adding a senior naval figure to the weekend’s ceremonial lineup.
Amy Lupo, president of NASCAR’s San Diego operations, emphasized the historic nature of the celebration, noting that the event honors the nation’s sea services in a way that has never been attempted before.
Hegseth’s background includes service as a major in the Army National Guard, two bronze stars earned in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a previous stint as grand marshal for the Coca‑Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
In recent remarks, Hegseth has criticized NATO allies, urging them to bolster their military capabilities as the United States reassesses troop deployments in Europe.
The weekend represents a convergence of motorsport, military tradition and corporate sponsorship, with the partnership between NASCAR, the Department of Defense and technology firm Anduril underscoring the growing intersection of defense and entertainment.