NASCAR Rumor: Series eye Cup race on streets of San Diego

San Diego has emerged as one of the cities where NASCAR is interested in hosting a future street race, according to people familiar with the matter, as the sanctioning body continues to explore the concept across America.

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A source who has spoken with a senior NASCAR executive on the topic confirmed that NASCAR is exploring sites in Southern California. The Sports San Diego commission and the San Diego Mayor’s office both did not respond to requests for comment, while NASCAR declined comment. Meanwhile, NASCAR is said to have spoken to groups in other cities including Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and some from the Pacific Northwest.

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NASCAR has one more year left on its contract to race in Chicago. The deal contains options for possible additional years, but NASCAR could elect to move on after 2025 and try the street racing concept in a different city.

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NASCAR also explored buying a stake in the Long Beach Grand Prix, according to a report from Racer magazine in March, but was not successful. That NASCAR has explored bids in L.A., Long Beach and now San Diego points to how the racing series is looking for its next place to compete in California after selling off the majority of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for $544M last year. Sports Business Journal