Listen. We don't normally cover NASCAR here. But when you race cars around a Navy base in Coronado, throw in the Kelce brothers, Patrick Mahomes, Marshawn Lynch in full Beast Mode, Scott Eastwood looking like he walked off a movie set, Drew Brees waving a green flag, and oh by the way the whole thing doubles as Travis Kelce's bachelor party — yeah, we're covering it.
San Diego just had one of the most surreal weekends in recent Southern California sports history and nobody is talking about it enough. Let's fix that.
The Race: Kid From Georgia Stuns the Field
The actual race — the Anduril 250, held Sunday June 21st on a 3.4-mile, 16-turn temporary street course built on Naval Base Coronado — was legitimately wild. Corey Heim, a 23-year-old part-time driver making just his 13th career Cup Series start, outdueled 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick in the closing laps to claim his first career victory. This kid hit the wall twice early, dropped back to 20th, and still won the race. Absolute cinema.
Reddick slipped in Turn 2 with three laps to go, giving Heim the opening he needed. The teammates ran side-by-side, Reddick tried a crossover move and made contact, then ceded the position — and later suffered a flat tire that dropped him to 25th. Points leader Reddick needed a good day. Did not get one.
Bubba Wallace finished second, giving 23XI Racing — the team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan — its first ever 1-2 finish in the Cup Series. Kyle Larson was third. Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, in his second and last Cup start of the year, slammed a tire barrier on lap five and finished 28th. Even legends have bad days.
It's the second time in three years that an inaugural NASCAR street race produced a first-time winner — Shane van Gisbergen did the same thing at the 2023 Chicago Street Race. Street courses just break the game differently.
The Celebrity Circus: San Diego Became an A-List Party
Forget the race for a second. The guest list at Naval Base Coronado this weekend read like the invite list to the Met Gala if the Met Gala was sponsored by racing fuel and American flags.
Travis and Jason Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees, Trevor Hoffman, Scott Eastwood, and Marshawn Lynch all attended. That's two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks, one of the greatest closers in baseball history, a Hollywood actor, and Marshawn Lynch walking around a Navy base. Completely normal Sunday in San Diego.
Patrick Mahomes spent part of the weekend at Kyle Larson's No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports pit. The two swapped uniforms last year. Mahomes in a fire suit is a look. Drew Brees served as Grand Marshal for Saturday's race and gave the command for drivers to start their engines. San Diego Padres legend Trevor Hoffman rode in the pace car. Scott Eastwood got on stage AND reportedly got a ride in an actual race car. Of course he did.
And Marshawn Lynch walked onstage during pre-race ceremonies and was simply himself, which is always more than enough. Beast Mode forever.
Travis Kelce's Bachelor Party: San Diego Edition
Travis Kelce didn't just show up to the race. He showed up as the centerpiece of what has become the most well-documented bachelor party in NFL history.
The week started Wednesday June 17th in Los Angeles — Kelce hit the Bird Streets Club on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood with pals including former Chiefs teammate Ross Travis, comedian Druski, and brother Jason. Then Friday, the group hit a Chris Lake concert in LA, with Travis getting up on stage to shoot a bubble gun into the crowd.
Then Sunday — NASCAR in Coronado with Mahomes and Jason. And then, because one major event wasn't enough, TMZ obtained video of Travis and Jason Kelce leaving Viejas Arena at SDSU after Dave Chappelle performed an hour-and-a-half set. The brothers were seen boarding a party bus with about eight very athletic-looking dudes. Travis and Jason shared a big hug in the parking lot before Travis climbed onto the bus. Someone screamed "Love you, Travis!" from the crowd. We don't blame them.
And then there was the cake — an LA bakery shared video of what they described as Kelce's bachelor party cake. A colorful tie-dye creation with the words "One More Ring" across the top. As in Super Bowl ring AND wedding ring. That's either the most confident thing ever committed to frosting or proof that this man simply cannot be stopped.
The Wedding: Madison Square Garden, July 3rd
While Travis was living his best life in San Diego, Taylor Swift was apparently doing the same on the opposite coast. A bunch of Swift's friends showed up at her Rhode Island mansion this weekend — bachelorette party speculation went through the roof. A massive fireworks display went off near her Watch Hill estate, which is either a bachelorette party or Taylor Swift being Taylor Swift. Probably both.
The wedding location is no longer a secret. A city official confirmed that Madison Square Garden is hosting the festivities on July 3rd. A permit was filed to close streets around MSG from July 2nd to midday July 4th. The reception is expected to draw up to 1,000 guests. Chiefs coach Andy Reid confirmed he's attending. Mahomes and Brittany are in. The Kittles are in. Half the Kansas City Chiefs have apparently booked rooms at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square for around July 3rd.
To recap: Travis Kelce spent last weekend watching cars race around a Navy base, going to a Dave Chappelle show on a party bus, eating a tie-dye cake that said "One More Ring" — and in nine days he'll marry the biggest pop star on earth at Madison Square Garden. This man is living a life that should not be statistically possible. And San Diego got a front-row seat.