San Diego NASCAR Weekend

This June ABB joins NASCAR to test a cleaner way to power a race weekend. ABB technology works inside the equipment and behind the live data that keeps the event running. See how it comes together on June 21, 2026 in San Diego.

Powering a NASCAR weekend  is no small feat

Food and beverage vendors, merchandise tents, fan zones, broadcast, race operations: a NASCAR weekend runs on a huge amount of temporary power. Traditionally that power comes from diesel generators running around the clock, whether the site needs full output or not. For the first time at a NASCAR weekend, ABB together with NASCAR are testing a cleaner way to do it.

Explore the technology

Rethinking temporary power

Demand at a race site is rarely constant. Generators are sized for peak load, so most of the time they run well below it, where efficiency drops and fuel use stays high.

The hybrid setup pairs a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a generator. The battery carries the load during normal operation, quietly handling the peaks and dips in demand. The generator only switches on when the battery runs low, recharges it, then shuts off again.

That means the generator runs far less often. When it does run, it works at high load, where it burns fuel most efficiently.

The payoff is lower fuel use and fewer emissions on site, with reliable power across the whole weekend.

A partnership made to Outrun

ABB is the official electrification partner of NASCAR, and we share one ambition: race faster while running cleaner.
Together we're building the energy infrastructure behind the event, from the moment the gates open to the final lap.

Inside the partnership

Meet ABB NASCAR Grid Control

ABB NASCAR Grid Control oversees the event's power from a single live dashboard. It tracks how energy moves between the battery and the generator and tracks this hybrid performance against a traditional 100% diesel generator strategy. 

Race engineers can see real-time energy use, system status, and emissions, on site or from anywhere. The dashboard keeps a running tally of the generator fuel and energy saved and the emissions avoided across the weekend.

The Electrification Technology Behind Every Race Moment

For NASCAR, synthesizing data across hundreds of microgrids-spanning multiple manufacturers and diverse generation sources, creates significant complexity and limited system visibility. Advancing toward NASCAR IMPACT goals requires a more integrated approach.

ABB delivers a single pane of glass. From smart circuit breakers trusted by temporary power OEMs to wireless sensors deployed without downtime, our portfolio brings complete visibility to the grid.

ABB Sensorfact™ Smart Monitoring Sensors and ABB CogniEN™

ABB Sensorfact:

ABB Sensorfact wireless sensors and cloud-based monitoring provides a simple solution for monitoring and tracking trends in temporary power (like in San Diego) or permanent power (like at a typical NASCAR track).
Easy-to-install sensors
Ready-to-use widget library simplifies set-up of dashboards
Sensorfact is flexible and can work as a standalone energy management system. Or, it can be integrated with other digital platforms via API, like ABB’s CogniEN platform.

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ABB CogniEN™:

This engineered software platform delivers a unified, “single pane of glass” view of the metrics that matter most to NASCAR's IMPACT objectives. ranging from real-time energy consumption and fuel savings to avoided carbon emissions and operational performance. Designed to support NASCAR’s net-zero goals, ABB CogniEN enables seamless integration of multiple third-party platforms, bringing diverse data sources into one consolidated interface. It also integrates with ABB supervisory controls and data acquisition (SCADA) systems allowing for fault prediction and analytics.

By reducing system complexity and eliminating data silos, the platform provides actionable insights and consistent KPI tracking across both temporary and permanent power environments, ensuring scalability for deployment across multiple tracks in the future.

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ABB Tmax XT Circuit Breakers

The technology of choice for Original Equipment Manufacturers, ABB SACE® Tmax® XT Circuit Breakers streamline execution for NASCAR by delivering the flexibility and protection required for temporary power systems. Adjustable trip settings adapt to constantly changing loads, while advanced trip units provide real-time monitoring, energy measurement, and communication—alerting operations teams to phase imbalances and power quality issues before they escalate.

Rapid Deployment: ABB ReliaGear® OEM neXT Power Panelboards

Empowers OEMs to provide flexible, relocatable, fast-deployable power distribution solutions which are essential for keeping pace with NASCAR’s weekly track-to-track race schedule.

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Enhanced Safety: ABB ReliaGear® XFMR

ABB ReliaGear® XFMR with a factory-installed infrared (IR) viewing window enhances safety and reliability by allowing operations teams to assess transformer performance without de-energizing equipment, which is critical in high-stress, temporary power environments where frequent transport and vibration can loosen connections. Strategically positioned IR windows provide maximum visibility to transformer core. Temporary power OEMs depend on the durability of ABB ReliaGear® XFMR as a core building block in their solutions—pairing ABB’s trusted reliability with design features that support rapid, safe deployment in the field.

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ABB’s engineering beyond the racetrack

The technology behind this pilot works far beyond the racetrack. ABB runs across automotive manufacturing, EV charging infrastructure, utilities, and large-scale events. See where ABB can fit your operation.