NASCAR’s San Diego Debut Leveraged Advanced Mobile Microgrids for Unprecedented Self-Sufficiency

SAN DIEGO, CA – The recent NASCAR race weekend at Naval Air Station North Island marked a significant logistical achievement for the sanctioning body, necessitating the deployment of a sophisticated, mobile, and self-sufficient power grid to support all racing operations. The event, dubbed the "Anduril 250 Race the Base," was strategically held on an active military installation, requiring meticulous planning to ensure no disruption to Air Force readiness.

The unique setting of NAS North Island, a historic and operational naval base, dictated the circuit’s layout. The track was carefully designed to encircle the base’s perimeter, a practical necessity that also served to manage civilian access. Fans were positioned on the westernmost edge of the base, a deliberate measure to maintain operational security and minimize any potential impact on the military facility’s core functions.

Crucially, every aspect of the NASCAR event – from pit road operations and fan experiences to all behind-the-scenes technical requirements – was mandated to operate independently of the North Island electrical grid. This challenge prompted NASCAR to collaborate with technology partner ABB to develop and implement a robust, sustainable power solution.

The innovative approach centered on a comprehensive network of microgrids, a concept elaborated upon by Chris Shigas, ABB’s Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. "A microgrid is a self-contained power system," Shigas explained. "That means the power generation, the power transmission, and the power distribution. When you don’t have access to utilities and you’re off-the-grid, you need to build a microgrid, and we built a giant network of microgrids here." He drew a parallel to the island’s most prominent self-contained power source, stating, "The only bigger microgrid on Coronado Island is the United States aircraft carrier, and that is nuclear powered, but it’s also self-contained."

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The implemented system for the San Diego weekend comprised 30 Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) integrated with traditional diesel generators. This hybrid approach was designed for maximum efficiency. The diesel generators were engaged for a limited two-hour period each day, while the BESS units powered each microgrid for the remaining 22 hours, demonstrating a significant reliance on stored energy. Visualizations of the power usage throughout the day showed distinct spikes corresponding to the generator activation and deactivation cycles.

This advanced power management technology traces its origins to NASCAR’s inaugural Cup Series street course events held in downtown Chicago between 2023 and 2025. CJ Tobin, NASCAR’s Managing Director of Vehicle Systems, likened the deployment of such mobile power infrastructure to transporting "a roving city into a market" whenever local utilities fall short of the demand. For the NAS North Island event, these ABB BESS units were instrumental in powering all motorsport activities across NASCAR’s three national touring divisions.

Tobin expressed confidence in the scalability of this solution, asserting that NASCAR can now deploy this model for races globally. "With the hybrid generators, bringing remote race controls to the track, we can carry this wherever we would like," Tobin stated. He acknowledged the collaborative effort required, highlighting the contributions of ABB, Suburban Propane, NASCAR, and the NASCAR R&D department. "All of us put our heads together and said, ‘How can we make this the most productive way to showcase what we’re doing together in this partnership with ABB?’"

Beyond the immediate logistical success, the San Diego event also served as a showcase for NASCAR’s commitment to sustainability and its ambitious goal of achieving net-zero operating emissions by 2035. This initiative is overseen by the NASCAR Impact department, which focuses on renewable energy, low-carbon fuels, recycling, and waste reduction.

Eric Nyquist, NASCAR’s Chief Impact Officer, emphasized that the pursuit of these environmental goals would not compromise the racing product. "2035 is an ambitious goal, but we fully intend to get it done in a way that if you’re a race fan, it’s not going to have one iota of an impact on what you’ve observed and the product on the track, the way we continue to race, the combustion engines, all that," Nyquist said. "None of that needs to change. What we’re doing is the other parts of it that we can do."

Nyquist detailed specific areas of focus, including enhancing the efficiency of long-haul transportation fleets to benefit race teams, optimizing power management at racetracks, and reducing reliance on diesel generators by transitioning to electric power. "Less diesel fumes, brings down our dependence on fuel. It’s more energy efficient. It reduces our carbon emissions," he stated, framing these as "win-wins across the board."

The San Diego weekend provided a crucial data-gathering opportunity. NASCAR and ABB collected comprehensive data to quantify the sustainability metrics of the event, aiming to refine future implementations. These figures were made accessible to fans in real-time via ABB’s "NASCAR Grid Control" display. This interactive exhibit, housed in a substantial glass pod, featured 11 live video feeds and dynamic data dashboards, mirroring the functionality of NASCAR’s remote race control operations in Concord, North Carolina. The display provided telemetry, advanced analytics, and various camera angles, offering spectators a transparent look into the decision-making processes and the data supporting them.

"This is obviously the first time we’ve ever done this and given fans access to see what we’re looking at," Tobin remarked. "And we want to do this again, with more transparency, and at other tracks. We want to be more efficient, which is what we’re doing with ABB and tell their story too." He further elaborated on the intent to share NASCAR’s operational insights with fans, including the data that informs official decisions. "Penalties get called and this is our way of showing ‘hey, this is what we saw,’ and ‘this is the data provided by our engineers, officials, and this is why we are making this decision.’ All of these are initiatives that we want to continue to push and I don’t think this is the last time you’ll see this at the race track."

The successful integration of mobile microgrids at NAS North Island represents a significant step forward in NASCAR’s operational capabilities, demonstrating a commitment to innovation and sustainability that extends beyond the racetrack itself. The data collected and the fan engagement fostered at this event are poised to inform future endeavors as NASCAR continues its pursuit of environmental responsibility and enhanced transparency.

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