Jeff Gordon, Helio Castroneves, Rusty Wallace and other NASCAR and INDYCAR legends will participate in an IROC race added to Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON — Jeff Gordon, Helio Castroneves, Rusty Wallace and other NASCAR and INDYCAR legends will participate in an IROC race added to Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend in Washington, D.C.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectNASCAR Cup Series champions Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte and Bill Elliott will join Indianapolis 500 champions Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti to practice and race Saturday, Aug. 22, on a seven-turn, 1.7-mile around the streets of the U.S. capitol city. The drivers will compete in authentic IROC Pontiac Firebirds that raced in series competition from 1996 to 2006.
“The Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend represents a truly unique opportunity for motorsports and our country,” said Ray Evernham, co-principal of IROC. “To see INDYCAR and IROC race on such hallowed ground, against the backdrop of some of our nation's most iconic landmarks, will be something truly special for competitors and fans alike. We are honored to have IROC included in the festivities and we look forward to putting on a great show for the fans.”
The IROC field will also host a free autograph session for fans Saturday.
“We are proud to welcome the International Race of Champions to the Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend, as we honor racing history by bringing some of the sport’s greatest heroes to this already legendary weekend,” said Bud Denker, chairman of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. “IROC has always represented the best of the best, bringing together champions from across motorsports to compete on equal footing. From the current INDYCAR stars to former NASCAR and INDYCAR champions, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will be a celebration of racing’s past and present competing at one of the most iconic settings in the world.”
The 1.7-mile circuit will feature a 0.4-mile run down Pennsylvania Avenue, with the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol in the backdrop. The circuit will go by landmarks such as the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the National Archives.
INDYCAR will take center stage that Sunday. The race length and distance is still unknown.
The race weekend is a result of an executive order President Donald Trump signed Jan. 30, 2026, authorizing the race on a relative whim. The order instructed the secretaries of Interior and Transportation to design the course within 14 days and coordinate with the mayor of Washington, D.C., on logistics to make the weekend happen.
Tickets were free for the event. However, the window for requesting tickets closed June 7.
