The recent unveiling of the San Diego Street course has sparked discussion among NASCAR insiders, with the Brad Keselowski camp sharing mixed opinions about the new schedule changes and increased road courses. The Brad Keselowski San Diego reaction highlights skepticism from both Keselowski and his teammate Ryan Preece as they prepare for the evolving landscape NASCAR will face in 2026.
Keselowski’s Continued Critique of NASCAR Road Course Expansion
This year has seen a growing number of street and road courses added to the NASCAR calendar, a trend Brad Keselowski addressed directly following the 2026 schedule announcement. Keselowski, who claimed the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series title, did not hide his concerns, stating,
We went from 2 to 6 Road course races, possibly 7 next year…IMSA will always do road racing better than NASCAR, and that’s ok. Yes, TOO MANY road courses in NASCAR.
His perspective was echoed throughout the team as they digested the latest updates brought forth by NASCAR leadership.
In particular, the upcoming San Diego Street race, set to replace the long-standing Chicago Street event, has drawn considerable attention. Keselowski’s worries center around the nature of street circuits, the shifting character of the Cup Series, and the potential impact on fan engagement and driver preparation.
Ryan Preece Compares San Diego Layout to Video Games
On October 22nd, teammate Ryan Preece offered his take during an episode of Backstretch Banter—a platform for open driver dialogue. With Derrick Finley present, Preece drew an unusual analogy for the new layout, sparking reactions across the NASCAR community. He described initial impressions by saying,
“It looks like a fortnight map Derek have you seen the Layouts in the outlook for San Diego? … It’s gonna be a lot of heavy braking corners There’s gonna be some out breaking moments The other side to it is I wonder how much you know with tires the way the direction that we’ve been going …so there’s a lot of questions right now for sure if we have the opportunity to run it in Sam, I’ll probably start, you know three months in advance because it’s a track I haven’t been to and you know, try to be as prepared as possible.”
— Ryan Preece, NASCAR cup driver.
Fortnite map or Sim City? 😂@RyanPreece_ and Derrick Finley reacted to the newly released San Diego course layout on this week’s episode of Backstretch Banter. pic.twitter.com/YKRYLCKspK— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) October 22, 2025
Preece’s comments underscore the uncertainty drivers feel heading into unfamiliar territory. San Diego’s layout, according to Preece, will demand intensive preparation and strategy due to its series of tight corners and technical sections, calling into question how race teams will adapt in a short timeframe.
Breaking Down the San Diego Street Course Features
The official renderings released today by NASCAR provided a detailed first look at the upcoming San Diego weekend, which will be presented by Andruil. Hosted on Naval Base Coronado, the course stretches for 3.4 miles and features sixteen demanding turns. Organizers have highlighted the track’s combination of high-speed sections with challenging corners framed by historic naval landmarks, making for a scenic but difficult racing environment.
Some features stand out. The start/finish line pays tribute to Commander Theodore Ellyson—a nod to the base’s aviation history. Turn 5, named Carrier Corner, carves out a path between the docking positions of two aircraft carriers, adding both atmosphere and complexity. Turn 8, the so-called Coronado Chicane, introduces a string of linked bends that drive competitors through the heart of the base. These signature aspects are designed to create a memorable spectacle for fans, but also present a real challenge for even experienced street racers.
Preece suggested that, with the prevalence of sharp turns throughout the course,
“there’s gonna be some out braking moments”
and that success will depend on a team’s understanding of tire strategy and car setup, particularly since this style of circuit is still relatively new to much of the Cup field. While the backdrop is unique, Keselowski’s group remains unconvinced by the sheer number of road courses encroaching on the schedule.
Team Priorities: Playoff Format and Performance Goals
As attention turns to strategic adjustments, Brad Keselowski has been vocal about his preference for a return to the Chase championship format, suggesting it allows for a more dynamic and fair postseason compared to the current system. While Keselowski steers discussion toward potential playoff reforms, his teammate Preece keeps his focus on immediate in-race improvements and qualifying strategies.
Preece Sets His Sights on Martinsville Success
While not a part of the current playoff grid, Ryan Preece is nonetheless targeting a breakthrough at Martinsville Speedway. Known for its short-track battles in Virginia, Martinsville represents a key venue where qualifying efforts and tactical execution can heavily influence results. Preece stressed the critical nature of setting a fast lap during the qualifying session, viewing it as essential to a strong race day, and explained the razor-thin margins between a standout finish and disappointment.
Preece emphasized,
Martinsville, to be honest with you, qualifying day can make or break your race day. It’s really important, and, for me, I felt like this spring I remember 100 percent that we were on a really good lap, potentially the pole, and then I just tried to get too much going into turn three, like a lot of us race car drivers do when things feel really good, and just gave a lot of that up. I think this time with it being a new tire, kind of get a really good feel of what that’s gonna be in practice, but then just get your mind right for qualifying and try to put it on the pole.
Preece’s results at Martinsville have made an impact recently, with a seventh-place finish in the spring’s Cookout 400 marking his third consecutive top-10 and raising the possibility of greater playoff involvement. That run, described as his best in nearly 200 Cup starts, demonstrates Preece’s growing momentum even as the playoff system and schedule changes dominate headlines.
Looking Ahead: Navigating Change in NASCAR’s Future
The reactions coming from Brad Keselowski and his teammate reflect a broader uncertainty among drivers and teams as NASCAR steers toward more road and street courses, such as the highly technical San Diego Street race at Naval Base Coronado. While the course’s unique scenery and naval heritage appeal to the event’s organizers, the prospect of adapting to such a novel environment leaves veterans like Keselowski and Preece openly questioning whether the current direction best aligns with the Cup Series’ traditions and competitive integrity.
The Brad Keselowski San Diego reaction illustrates how sweeping changes—from major schedule shifts to testing new course formats—are likely to fuel further passionate debate within the sport. With playoff formats under scrutiny and new circuits challenging driver preparation, the coming season will test the adaptability of both competitors and their crews. Fans, meanwhile, will watch closely to see how established stars and up-and-coming talents alike respond to a time of rapid transformation in America’s premier stock car series.
Fortnite map or Sim City? 😂@RyanPreece_ and Derrick Finley reacted to the newly released San Diego course layout on this week’s episode of Backstretch Banter. pic.twitter.com/YKRYLCKspK
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) October 22, 2025
