Since opening to the public in 2004, the USS Midway Museum has remained steadfast in its commitment to honoring and supporting military veterans and their families. Through direct financial contributions, discounted and complimentary admission programs, commemorative ceremonies and special events, Midway proudly recognizes the service, sacrifice and dedication of those who have worn the uniform of our nation and the families who have stood beside them.

This commitment was again vividly demonstrated when the museum again teamed up with the Home Depot Foundation to support five local veteran-support organizations through a massive volunteer event on the flight deck. Home Depot brought together hundreds of volunteers to complete a series of projects benefiting the Armed Services YMCA, Horse of the Sun Ranch, Humble Design, Warrior Foundation Freedom Stations, YMCA Camp Surf, as well as Midway.

We’re here with about 300 volunteers and we do projects like this across the United States every day,” said Erin Izen, the Home Depot Foundation’s executive director. “At the Home Depot Foundation, we’re on a mission to make sure that every veteran has a safe place to call home.”

“Home Depot and Midway are perfectly aligned on our mutual commitment to supporting veterans,” said Steve Miller, Midway’s director of strategic partnerships and member development. “Nothing gives us greater satisfaction than knowing that there are organizations that feel as strongly as we do in helping our active-duty military, veterans and their families.”

In slightly more than three hours, and with military-like precision, the volunteers assembled custom outdoor and indoor furniture, including picnic tables, raised garden beds, benches, dressers, tables and nightstands, in support of the therapeutic and housing programming of the participating veteran-support organizations. Volunteers also assembled bicycles and playhouses to enhance the everyday lives of local veterans and their families.

“Giving back to veterans is at the core of what we do at the Home Depot Foundation,” said Danny Watson, a senior project specialist at the Home Depot Foundation. “We have quite a few projects that we’re doing and our volunteers have come from all around the country to help us. We’re working through our local stores who are leading the effort through Team Depot.”

Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $650 million in veteran causes and improved more than 70,000 veteran homes and facilities, ensuring more of the nation’s heroes have a safe and comfortable place to call home that fits their individual needs.

Home Depot has approximately 475,000 employees and 2,300 stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Each store has its own set of non-profit organizations they work with. Home Depot is engaged with more than 15,000 local organizations around the country and also has 26 national non-profit partners, many of whom directly support veterans.

“Serving veterans is something that’s really important to us,” said Heather Prill, director of Team Depot and strategic partnerships. “It’s at the core of what we do, and more than 35,000 of our own associates are veterans, active military or military spouses.”

The receiving organizations of the Home Depot Foundation’s efforts have tremendous gratitude for the support they get from volunteer projects like the one on Midway.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Home Depot Foundation for their continued commitment to the warriors we serve,” said Andy Gasper, CEO of the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. “It’s amazing for our residents and the warriors we serve at the hospital. They look at these events and are able to really see how much America still cares about them. We are honored to have partners who continue to invest in the well-being of our nation’s warriors.”

The opportunity to conduct this community outreach project for veterans on Midway is especially impactful for the volunteers.

“We love being up here on the Midway,” said Erin. “It gives our volunteers a chance to see what the veterans have done and what they are connected to. It’s extra special for us to do some of this work alongside some of the military. We’re all gathered here to make sure we’re making a difference.”

America’s 250th birthday comes only once, and USS Midway Museum celebrated this historic occasion in grand fashion.

More than 2,500 Independence Day revelers, clad in various shades of red, white and blue, packed Midway’s flight deck for an old-fashion rock ‘n’ roll concert and to view one of the most impressive fireworks extravaganzas on the West Coast.

“It’s a tradition for us,” said Carlos Chavez, who has been enjoying the Fourth of July on Midway with his family for the past five years. “It’s a hard ticket to get a hold of, but it you’re persistent, it’s totally worth it. It’s the best seat in the entire county. You’re not going to get any better than this. The experience is the best.”

While the museum has always had a concert on board as entertainment for guests waiting for the Big Bay Boom fireworks display, this year the concert was as much a reason to celebrate on Midway as the pyrotechnics. Headlining the flight deck party was the renowned supergroup, World Classic Rockers.

“I think the fireworks are great, but I came for the band,” said Carol Hammond, who was on board with friends. “They played the songs I loved so much growing up. Hearing them in person made me feel young again.”

World Classic Rockers is a classic rock group founded in 1995. The band features a rotating lineup of musicians and singers who originally played in a variety of legendary rock and pop groups like Steppenwolf, Journey, Boston, Toto, Santana and Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is not the first time World Classic Rockers have performed on Midway.

“It’s amazing to be here as I love playing on the Midway,” said Aynsley Dunbar, the band’s drummer who was with Journey from 1974-1978. “It brings back great memories. It’s so fun being here. I hope on our 250th, the whole world can come together and be better all around.”

The concert was more than just incredible entertainment, it was also a fundraiser for Freedom Park at Burnham Navy Pier. Net proceeds from the event will go to the ongoing development of the largest public park on the West Coast that, when completed in 2028, will be a tribute to veterans and their families.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us aboard Midway to celebrate America’s 250th birthday,” said Christina Case, Midway’s capital campaign director for Freedom Park. “It was a wonderful evening that honored our nation while helping build Freedom Park. I’m thrilled that the proceeds from the event will help transform a historic Navy Pier into a place where future generations can gather to reflect, remember and better understand the sacrifices that protect our freedoms.”

The high energy of the World Classic Rockers’ concert was accentuated by the massive 18-minute fireworks display over San Diego Bay celebrating 250 years of the ongoing experiment known as the American democracy.

“This is our 250th, that’s a big deal” said Jean Brackton, who was on board with three generation of her family. “Being on Midway for the Fourth this year made our country’s birthday even more special.”

For more than two and a half centuries, even before the formal signing of the Declaration of Independence, American patriots have been fighting for and, unfortunately, paying the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. The battles of Lexington and Concord, where the first shots of the War of Independence were volleyed, took place more than a year before the Continental Congress officially severed political ties with Great Britain’s monarchy and announced to the world that they were forming a new and independent nation.

Since 1775, it’s estimated that more than 1.2 million Americans have laid down their lives for the United States, defending freedom and democracy both at home and around the world.

Annually, on Memorial Day, the USS Midway Museum pays tribute to the men and women who have perished in the line of duty with a solemn ceremony on the flight deck.

“For more than 20 years, this ceremony has been a very important tradition on Midway where we salute all those who have given their lives wearing the uniform of our nation,” said David Koontz, Midway’s marketing director and emcee for the ceremony. “Not only are we extraordinarily in the debt of these heroes, but we also honor them by ensuring that the freedoms all Americans enjoy today are never taken for granted.”

Memorial Day takes on a greater importance in San Diego as it’s home to the largest Navy and Marine Corps complex in the world.

“San Diego’s connection to military service and sacrifice runs deep,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria during the ceremony’s opening remarks. “Memorial Day asks us to remember those who ran toward danger when others needed them most, and it reminds us that kind of courage still lives among us today.”

While the ceremony on Midway, as it does every year, honors all who have sacrificed for their country, 2026 had a unique focus. This year’s commemoration was a special tribute to Operation Desert Storm veterans on the 35th anniversary of the U.S.-led coalition that liberated Kuwait in 1991.

“During Operation Desert Storm, tens of thousands of San Diego-based sailors and Marines deployed from our region’s naval and Marine installations,” said Mayor Gloria. “The success of that mission depended heavily on Navy and Marine forces based right here in San Diego.”

The Gulf War, as it was also known, was the battle to liberate Kuwait after it was invaded, unprovoked, by Iraq in 1990. After exhausting all diplomatic efforts over several months, the U.S.-led coalition of 35 nations not only decisively expelled the invading forces from Kuwait during the 43-day conflict, but also virtually decimated the Iraqi military machine.

The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Midway’s president and CEO, Terry Kraft. Terry was a naval aviator with Attack Squadron 115 (VA-115) and flew 40 combat missions over Iraq from the USS Midway (CV-41).  Midway was the flagship for all naval aviation operations flown from the Persian Gulf during the war.

“We faced a formidable fighting force featuring a huge, entrenched land army, modern fighter aircraft and a sophisticated air defense,” remembered Terry, who was a bomber/navigator in the A-6E Intruder attack aircraft. “The A-6 was designed for night or bad weather attack missions. Our job on nights one and two was to fly against a heavily defended airfield in southern Iraq.”

Operation Desert Storm was consider by many military historians as the largest and most concentrated air campaign in U.S. history.

“We were told by the intelligence officers before the first night’s missions that they expected one third of us not to return, which got our attention,” said Terry, who is celebrating his third year as Midway’s CEO. “The first two nights were the worst as we were shot at extensively. The first night, we were at low altitude and shot at by anti-aircraft fire. The second night, flying at high altitude, we were targeted by surface-to-air missiles. However, as each night went by, we got better and the enemy got worse.”

During the conflict, Midway’s airwing flew 3,339 combat missions without losing a single aircraft.  Sadly, however, nearly 800 U.S. military personnel were killed or wounded during the war.

“On Midway, we have small memorials everywhere to those who did not come back,” said Terry. “I promise that here we will never forget them, their service or their families.”

The ceremony, attended by nearly 500 military veterans and members of the San Diego community, included a wreath laying and a missing-man flyover.

“Remembrance is not passive, it asks something of us,” said Mayor Gloria. “It asks us to build a country worthy of those we honor and a community worthy of their sacrifice. We must remember the fallen, honor their families and teach the next generation their names. We must leave here more committed to service, unity and one another.”

When the USS Midway (CV-41) was an active-duty ship with the U.S. Navy, it was not required to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). When Midway became a museum, however, it was a different story.

Opening to visitors in 2004, the ship immediately became classified as a public accommodation. To ensure equitable access to cultural, historical and educational programming, Midway was required to provide equal access to facilities, exhibits and employment, regardless of a person’s physical, sensory or cognitive abilities.

To ensure ADA compliance and provide visitors the highest degree of accessibility to the museum, two passenger elevators were installed to raise guests from Navy Pier to the hangar deck, and from hangar deck to the flight deck.

“Guests have a lot of ground to cover when visiting Midway,” said Mark Berlin, Midway’s director of operations. “Our elevators allow them to easily travel between decks even if they are able to use any of our custom stairways. We have also become a very popular family destination and have seen many more strollers come aboard over the years.”

With both elevators approaching the end of their service lives, a new elevator was installed, and it’s now known as the Brow 4 Elevator.

“Midway began investigating a replacement elevator on the pier several years ago,” said Len Santiago, Midway’s chief engineer. “Following our assessment, we submitted our request for a coastal development permit to the California Coastal Commission in 2018. After receiving approval, the project then required extensive coordination with various local, state and federal regulatory agencies, accessibility specialists and waterfront officials to ensure the project complied with the necessary building, accessibility, environmental and historic codes and requirements.”

The project was far from simple, as it involved extensive engineering, planning and coordination to integrate a modern, ADA-compliant lifting system into a historic 81-year-old aircraft carrier. Engineering investigations and analyses determined how a new tower could be safely connected to both the pier and Midway without adversely affecting the ship. Structural engineers also had to account for tidal currents, waterfront environmental conditions and ongoing public operations.

“One of the critical challenges identified during the design and construction planning was the constant movement of the ship itself,” said Len. “Because the new elevator and brow connection require precise alignment between the pier and the ship, we recognized that the vessel’s lateral and vertical movement during daily tidal shifts could be a potential risk to long-term operations. To address this, we installed additional bollards on Navy Pier to increase the number of mooring lines holding the ship to the pier. This has already significantly reduced how much the ship moves, especially during strong tidal swings.”

When construction finally began in August 2025, the project included cutting a massive hole into the pier to ensure the elevator would be flush with the pier surface, relocating utilities, electrical and communication system upgrades, fire-life-safety enhancements, and the fabrication and erection of the elevator tower and stairwell.

The elevator was manufactured by the elevator and escalator division of Mitsubishi Electric as the company met Midway’s stringent requirement for consistent reliability in a demanding, high-use environment, as well as possessing a very responsive maintenance and support service programs.

“It was critical that our engineering partner was capable of delivering a highly specialized solution that could meet the operational, environmental and regulatory demands of our floating museum,” said Len. “Mitsubishi demonstrated their ability to engineer around our constraints rather than giving us a basic off-the-shelf solution.”

The new elevator opened just in time for the museum’s Fourth of July celebration.

“I’ve waited a long time to see this elevator be installed,” said Mark. “With only one elevator serving as both the way onto and off the ship, we often experience bottlenecks on our entry brow on busy days as guests had to cross each other to access the elevator. Now with two pier elevators, we eliminate the cross-traffic issue and have a backup to use if one goes down.”

“The new pier-to-hangar deck passenger elevator significantly improves both guest accessibility and operational capability for Midway,” said Len. “For visitors, the elevator provides more reliable and expanded ADA access. Operationally, the elevator gives us major improvement in event logistics, enabling materials, supplies and event equipment to be transported between pier and ship.”

Midway’s existing passenger elevators will also be replaced in the near future.

The A-1 Skyraider is a legendary aircraft. A workhorse attack plane for the Navy during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, it was famous for its durability, massive payloads and unmatched slow-speed maneuverability during close-air support missions in combat.

Affectionately known as the “Spad” by those who flew and maintained this armored combat vehicle with wings, the Skyraider is revered as one of the most extraordinary and versatile aircraft in U.S. naval aviation history.

Although it’s been nearly 60 years since the last Navy Spad took flight, the USS Midway Museum keeps this celebrated aircraft front and center on the flight deck, and after more than two years of detailed restoration by the museum’s airwing volunteers, it looks almost brand new.

“The Skyraider is a very historical airframe,” said Steve Smith, Midway’s airwing director. “It tells an incredible story about these great flying machines and the men who flew them. The tales of its close-air  and search and rescue support missions in Korea and Vietnam are renowned.”

Skyraider squadrons flew from Midway’s flight deck in the late 1940s shortly after becoming operational and again in the mid-1960s during the early stages of the Vietnam War.

Midway’s Spad has a long and well-traveled history. It joined Fleet Composite Squadron Twelve (VC-12) at Naval Air Station Quonset Point in Rhode Island in 1952.  In 1955, the aircraft was transferred to the British Royal Navy and eight years later it was reassigned to the Royal Swedish Air Force where it flew gun and missile target training missions until 1976.

The aircraft returned to the United States in 1984, where it was later displayed in the National Warplane Museum in New York for several years before finally landing at Midway’s restoration hangar at Naval Air Station North Island in 2006. It was first displayed on Midway in 2007.

“This aircraft has literally been around the world and back,” said Mark Berlin, Midway’s operation director. “In the nearly 20 years it’s been on Midway, it’s been one of the most popular aircraft.  I’m glad it’s restored and back on the flight deck for our guests to see.”

The primary reason for being taken back to Hangar 805 at North Island for a second restoration was due to the long-term negative impact of San Diego Bay’s saltwater environment on its metal airframe.

“The major issue was corrosion,” said Steve. “The airwing team treated the corrosion on the wings and fuselage. We also had to reskin several areas of the Skyraider to bring it back to the proper condition to be exhibited on Midway.”

This latest restoration effort, also done by Midway volunteers, was started in 2003. More than 8,000 hours were spent refurbishing the 74-year-old aircraft. The Skyraider returned to Midway in May, where the airwing team completed painting the markings and emblems of Attack Squadron 25 (VA-25) on the fuselage. VA-25 flew hundreds of combat missions from Midway over North Vietnam in 1965.

“The airwing volunteers worked their magic again,” said Steve. “They did a great job removing all the corrosion and rust, and with the tremendous focus our team had on its preservation and maintenance, the Skyraider will last a very long time.”

It is rare that a motion picture captivates audiences across decades, earning the admiration of generation after generation of moviegoers. “The Wizard of Oz,” “Star Wars,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and even Disney’s animated “The Beauty and the Beast,” are among a select few classic films whose popularity has endured, remaining just as beloved today as when they first hit the silver screen.

“Top Gun,” without question, has proven itself to also be one of those few films that has stood the test of time, capturing viewers’ imagination and keeping them on the edge of their seats for 40 years.

For nearly two decades, “Top Gun” Movie Night on the USS Midway Museum has been a center-of-the-universe event in San Diego. Each year, thousands of “need for speed” fanatics pack Midway’s flight deck to watch this salute to naval aviation under the stars.

“There’s a reason people come back year after year,” said Vanessa Pineda, one of the movie night coordinators. “Midway’s “Top Gun” party and movie night is more than a movie, it’s part of San Diego’s story. Watching it aboard Midway, surrounded by the sights and sounds of naval aviation and thousands of fellow fans, creates an experience that simply can’t be replicated anywhere else.”

“Nobody doesn’t like “Top Gun,” even after 40 years,” said John Merritt, a “Top Gun” super fan who goes by the call sign Skidvoodoo and displays movie-related memorabilia during the event on Midway. “It has hit so many generations and inspired so many people.  A lot of former naval aviators were inspired to join the Navy because of the film. There’s not many things that hit on that level. It’s not just entertainment, it changed a lot of lives.”

“There’s a reason people come back year after year,” said Vanessa Pineda, Midway’s assistant marketing director and one of the movie night coordinators. “Midway’s “Top Gun” party and movie night is more than a movie, it’s part of San Diego’s story. Watching it aboard Midway, surrounded by the sights and sounds of naval aviation and thousands of fellow fans, creates an experience that simply can’t be replicated anywhere else.”

“Nobody doesn’t like ‘Top Gun,’ even after 40 years,” said John Merritt, a “Top Gun” super fan who goes by the call sign Skidvoodoo and displays movie-related memorabilia during the event on Midway. “It has hit so many generations and inspired so many people.  A lot of former naval aviators were inspired to join the Navy because of the film. There’s not many things that hit on that level. It’s not just entertainment, it changed a lot of lives.”

In 2026, on the 40th anniversary of the original film, Midway decided to take the event to a higher level of flight by showing “Top Gun” and “Top Gun: Maverick” as a double feature on consecutive nights.

While the movies were the main attraction, one of the biggest thrills for movie night attendees was the chance to meet and get photographs with one of the world’s most renowned Maverick impersonators.

“Performing at “Top Gun” Movie Night aboard the Midway was honestly a surreal experience,” said Jerome LeBlanc, who goes by the stage name of California Tom Cruise. “What really stood out to me was seeing families, veterans, aviation enthusiasts and longtime “Top Gun” fans all sharing the same excitement together. Taking photos with everyone and hearing their stories reminded me how deeply this movie connects people emotionally. Being able to interact with guests in that environment felt less like a performance and more like being part of a shared celebration.”

Joining Jerome were several former F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet naval aviators who actually supported the production of both films. Interacting with “Top Gun” fans at the flight-deck Danger Zone display, they too could feel the energy the movies create.

“The movie nights were amazing,” said Marco Cromartie, a former F-14 radar intercept officer who was an extra in the original film. “It was great to see ‘Top Gun’ fans from around the world and from every generation. Their passion, energy and excitement was special. It really added to the Midway Magic.”

“What is so amazing about being involved with this movie is the fan base,” said Aaron Vernallis, a former F/A-18 pilot who flew in scenes in “Top Gun: Maverick.” “They truly love aviation and everything about the film. On movie night, we met fans from Australia, Korea, Japan and many other distant locations. It truly is an internationally loved film. It was really cool to see the younger fans in their flight suits, walking amongst the aircraft on the flight deck. You could really see how magical a night it was for them.”

Whether it’s the spectacular aerial flight scenes, the flawed but heroic nature of the main characters, or the coming-of-age theme woven through the films, “Top Gun” has evolved from simply being a high-pulse-rate action film to achieving true cultural and theatrical immortality. There’s a lethally attractive combination of elements in the movie that keeps generations enthralled by these cinematic phenomena.

“It’s become a Memorial Day weekend tradition that people look forward to every year,” said Vanessa, who joined the Midway family in 2006. “There’s simply nowhere else you can celebrate the legacy of “Top Gun” than in its hometown aboard a historic aircraft carrier. It’s the reason this event is a sellout every year.”

“I wasn’t even born when the first “Top Gun” came out, but I’ve loved the movie since as far back as I can remember,” said Karen Blanchard, who attended movie night with friends. “I’ve seen it more times than I can count and this is my second time watching it on Midway. The movie is even more exhilarating to watch here on the flight deck with all the other crazy ‘Top Gun’ fans. I’ll be back again next year.”

For decades, the thunderous roar of Navy jet engines at full throttle defined the flight deck of the USS Midway (CV-41). However, during NASCAR San Diego weekend, a different kind of energy briefly took center stage as the electrifying reverberations of a high-powered race car echoed across the deck of the historic USS Midway Museum.

NASCAR made its inaugural visit to San Diego this summer and for the first time in its 78 year history, held a race on a military base. Naval Air Station North Island, part of the Naval Base Coronado complex, was the dramatic location of a NASCAR Cup Series race. The temporary street circuit, which included 16 turns over a 3.4 mile course, weaved its way through the base and alongside the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) moored at the air station’s carrier pier.

“NASCAR weekend in San Diego is a one of a kind event,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “This is an extremely exciting event for San Diego.”

To kick off this massive race event in an exhilarating style reserved only for NASCAR, the association’s governing body turned to Midway.

“We have incredible colleagues at NASCAR who oversee our video game division and they came to us saying they wanted to launch our newest game at the race in San Diego,” said Amy Lupo, president of NASCAR San Diego. “They asked if there would be a place to do it. We really wanted to ensure that all of San Diego was tied to the race event and not just Coronado. So we thought, why not see if we can have a race car do a burnout on the Midway.”

“When NASCAR first reached out to us, I’ll admit, our initial response was ‘you want to do what?,’” said David Koontz, Midway director of marketing. “This was indeed a wild idea, but after a few internal discussions amongst our staff, we thought that as long as it could be done safely, let’s give it a shot. We felt it would be a great opportunity to partner with NASCAR.”

The concept behind the burnout event on Midway was not only to promote NASCAR’s race weekend, but to also announce the launch of the newest version of its video game, NASCAR26, and which race car driver would grace the game’s cover.

“It was great to help NASCAR announce its new 2026 video game by doing a burnout on the flight deck,” said Terry Kraft, Midway’s president and CEO. “NASCAR is an American institution and Midway is an American institution. There was no better place to do it than on Midway.”

As the announcement was a closely held secret by NASCAR, the race car of Kyle Larson was craned on board Midway under the cloak of early morning darkness and hidden on the flight deck out of view of the museum’s staff, volunteers and visitors.  It was only during the announcement event that Kyle, the 2025 NASACR Cup Series champion, thundered his No. 5 Chevy Camero ZL1 race car out in front of the flight deck’s island performing a series of spectacular burnout donuts to the surprise of all but a few of the attendees.

“Doing a burnout on an aircraft carrier is definitely a first for me and it’s something that I probably never thought that I’d get a chance to do,” said Kyle, who was chosen to be on the cover of the new NASCAR video game. “It was an awesome opportunity to do the burnouts here on the Midway and promote the race. It’s a really cool and a great experience.”

“NASCAR is an American institution and Midway is an American institution. There was no better place to do it than on Midway.”

NASCAR has had a long tradition of supporting active-duty military and veterans with a variety of programs and benefits at several of their venues throughout its race season.  Keeping that spirit of support alive in San Diego, and in conjunction with the new video game announcement event, NASCAR made a $10,000 donation to Freedom Park at Burnham Navy Pier.

“Freedom Park is going to be a beautiful addition to the San Diego waterfront,” said Amy, who has been with NASCAR for five years. “NASCAR has a long history of supporting the military. We’re new to San Diego and I can’t think of a better way to start our race weekend than by making a donation to the Midway and Freedom Park.”

“We’re very grateful to NASCAR for their donation to Freedom Park,” said Terry, who became Midway’s CEO in 2023. “We’re building this park to remember the service and sacrifices of so many veterans, and to bring NASCAR in as part of the legacy of Freedom Park is fantastic.”

The donation by NASCAR is yet another healthy contribution to Midway’s on-going capital campaign for Freedom Park. The burnout, however, was a first ever on an aircraft carrier’s flight deck.

“The burnout was cool,” laughed Kyle, who finished third in the race at Naval Base Corondo. “The tires smoked up pretty good and I tried not to hit anything. I got a little closer to the island than anticipated, but I hope everyone enjoyed it.”

  “It was very cool to see Kyle do the burnout,” said Terry, a former naval aviator who flew 40 combat missions from Midway during Operation Desert Storm. “We kept an eye on all our planes and he didn’t get too close. We left the skid marks on the deck so any NASCAR fan could see where it all happened.”

“It was an amazing burnout on the flight deck of the Midway,” said Amy. “It was pretty surreal.”

For the mayor, however, he’s happy to only have professionals doing burnouts in San Diego.

“The burnout by Kyle Larson on the Midway was an incredible experience,” said Mayor Gloria with a smile. “But let me be clear, you’re only allowed to do a burnout here if you are a NASCAR racer.”