Driver Corey Heim “passed teammate and points leader Tyler Reddick on the third-to-last lap then won just ahead of Bubba Wallace” to give 23XI Racing its first 1-2 finish ever at the inaugural Anduril 250 on Naval Base Coronado Sunday. Heim scored his first NASCAR Cup victory in just his 13th start as a part-time starter (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/21). It was “one of NASCAR’s most improbable wins in recent times,” and it “came at one of the most challenging tracks in NASCAR history” (THE ATHLETIC, 6/21).
The event “hosted 100,000 NASCAR fans over two days -- the majority of whom had never been on a military base before” -- and the weekend’s operation “exceeded expectations.” NASCAR San Diego President Amy Lupo said, “Navy security, our security, crowd control: the three teams have such a buttoned-up plan.” Stern added traffic and parking, two concerns throughout the weekend, were handled by what Lupo called “a hand-in-hand partnership” between NASCAR, the Navy, CalTrans, the California Highway Patrol and Coronado officials (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/21).
Among the celebrities and athletes at Sunday’s race: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce; former NFLers Jason Kelce, Marshawn Lynch and Alshon Jeffrey; Suns G Devin Booker; Chargers S Tony Jefferson; actor Scott Eastwood; and host Kay Adams. Pro Football HOFer Drew Brees; Baseball HOFer Trevor Hoffman; and ABC/ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer were at the track Saturday (SBJ).
