The Garage by Toyota Racing: Free NASCAR Kickoff Event at Waterfront Park, June 13

Toyota Racing is bringing "The Garage" to San Diego on Saturday, June 13, 2026 — a free all-day kickoff event at Waterfront Park celebrating local culture and motorsports a week before the historic NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado. The event blends high-speed racing experiences with live music, art, and community partnerships, and runs from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM PT.

It's essentially a free, family-friendly preview party for the most anticipated motorsports event of 2026 — and if you don't have tickets to the actual NASCAR race the following weekend, this is your chance to experience the energy without the price tag.

What You Actually Need to Know

• Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PT
• Where: Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, downtown San Diego, CA 92101
• Cost: FREE (no tickets required)
• Family-friendly: Yes — interactive, all-ages programming
• Host: Toyota Racing, in partnership with local San Diego brands

What's Happening at The Garage

This is a full-day activation built around the convergence of motorsports and San Diego culture. Confirmed programming:

Racing experiences:

• Interactive racing simulators — try your hand at the wheel without leaving the park
• NASCAR 25 Game Pod — test your skills in NASCAR's official video game
• Exclusive vehicle displays — see Toyota Racing cars and local enthusiast vehicles provided by San Diego County Toyota Dealers
• Pit box interview session with Team Toyota athlete Jordyn Barratt

Skateboarding:

• Live skate demonstration on a mini halfpipe featuring Encinitas native and Team Toyota skater Jordyn Barratt, in collaboration with local skate shop Arts-Rec and 23XI Racing (co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin)
• Autograph session with Jordyn Barratt at the Outfitters merchandise hauler

Art and music:

• Live mural installation by a San Diego-based muralist, blending Toyota Racing iconography with local culture
• DJ Beto Perez — the San Diego Padres' resident DJ — providing music throughout the day
• An SDFC player appearance (player TBA)

Local sports tie-ins:

• Sports-themed games courtesy of the San Diego Padres and San Diego FC
• Premium giveaways throughout the day

Limited-edition merchandise:

• Toyota × Arts-Rec collaboration drop — a limited co-branded merchandise collab with the local skate shop, available while supplies last

Why This Event Matters

A few things make The Garage a unique stop on the June calendar:

1. It's free. NASCAR San Diego Weekend tickets aren't cheap, and Friday's Truck Series race at Naval Base Coronado isn't open to the general public. The Garage is the only public-facing piece of the broader NASCAR weekend that costs nothing to attend.

2. The Jordyn Barratt angle is real. Barratt is a North County local — she grew up skating in Encinitas — and her partnership with Toyota Racing and 23XI Racing (Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin's team) is one of the more interesting crossovers in motorsports right now. Seeing her on a mini halfpipe is genuinely worth the trip.

3. It's a great preview of NASCAR's first race on an active military base. The Garage is Toyota's way of building local momentum for the June 19–21 NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado. If you've never been to a NASCAR event, this is the lowest-stakes way to get a feel for the brand and culture before deciding whether to commit to race weekend tickets.

4. The Padres × SDFC tie-ins make this feel like San Diego, not just Toyota. Beto Perez DJing and a San Diego FC player appearance ground the event in the local sports culture — it's not just a corporate activation.

When and Where

Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM PT

Location: Waterfront Park — 1600 Pacific Highway, downtown San Diego, CA 92101

Waterfront Park sits between the County Administration Building and San Diego Bay — one of the most scenic open-air venues in the city, with views across to North Island and the Coronado Bridge.

Who It's For

• NASCAR fans building up to race weekend
• Skateboarding fans — Jordyn Barratt is one of the better-known skaters working today
• Families — interactive simulators, games, art, and free admission make this an easy Saturday with kids
• Local sports fans — Padres and SDFC programming is built in
• Anyone within walking distance of downtown San Diego — Waterfront Park is right next to the cruise terminal, USS Midway Museum, and the Embarcadero

What to Bring

• Sunscreen and a hat — Waterfront Park has limited shade in the middle of the day
• A water bottle (refill stations expected, plus expect Topo Chico or similar sponsor activations)
• Cash and cards for the Arts-Rec × Toyota merch drop (while supplies last)
• Comfortable shoes — you'll be walking the whole park

Getting to Waterfront Park

• MTS Trolley: Green Line drops you at the County Center/Little Italy station, two blocks from the park
• Driving: Street parking and nearby pay lots; expect crowds on a Saturday afternoon downtown
• Walking: Easy access from Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, and the Embarcadero

Good to Know

• Admission is free — no tickets or RSVPs required
• Arts-Rec × Toyota merchandise is limited — show up early if the collab matters to you
• Skate demos and autograph sessions have specific time windows — follow @toyotaracing and local Arts-Rec channels for exact timing closer to the event
• The full NASCAR weekend runs June 19–21 the following week at Naval Base Coronado — read our full NASCAR San Diego Weekend guide for ticket info, course details, and what to expect
• Pair with lunch in Little Italy (the Little Italy Mercato is happening that morning until 2:00 PM, only a few blocks from Waterfront Park)

For more events happening in San Diego this June, check out our full June events calendar or browse our downtown San Diego neighborhood guide.