Following IndyCar’s cinematic debut on the National Mall, officials and racing fans now eye a high-stakes street circuit expansion to bring stock car thunder to Washington’s monuments
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kyle Kirkwood pulled off a historic win in the Freedom 250 on Sunday, and the whole thing looked like it belonged on a movie screen.
The weather was perfect. The Capitol and the monuments framed the track in a way that felt almost unreal.
It was pure cinema.
For one afternoon, open-wheel racing sat right in the middle of the nation’s capital, and it looked incredible.
So now the obvious question is… could NASCAR do the same thing?
The Freedom 250 was a one-off event built around the America 250 celebration. It took presidential executive orders just to make the race possible after IndyCar officials had spent decades trying to get something done in Washington.
That alone tells you how complicated the politics are.
Because of that, it seems unlikely IndyCar returns anytime soon. But “unlikely” isn’t the same as “impossible.” And if IndyCar could pull it off once, NASCAR has to at least think about it.
NASCAR has already shown it can make street races work. Chicago proved the concept, and the San Diego race at Naval Base Coronado took it to another level. Those events brought in new fans, created big atmospheres, and gave the series a different look.
A race in Washington, D.C. would be the biggest stage yet.
Of course, it’s not simple.
The track used for the Freedom 250 was 1.7 miles with very tight turns — tight even for the IndyCars. IndyCar only put 25 cars on the track. A full 40-car NASCAR Cup Series field would make the logistics even harder. Packing that many stock cars onto a tight street circuit in the middle of the capital would be a serious challenge.
Still, the idea is gaining some loud support.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is already calling for it. “I’m an old southern boy. I’m a NASCAR boy. It’s time to bring NASCAR to DC. I’ve already tweeted about it,” Collins told FOX News.
When asked if NASCAR could handle the D.C. circuit, he didn’t hesitate. “NASCAR can handle anything. We need NASCAR in DC as well. Along with IndyCar, two American sports. Put em right here.”
He’s not wrong about the upside. Washington is the No. 8 TV market in the country. A race there would put NASCAR in front of a completely different audience in a setting that might be the most unique on the entire schedule.
The visuals alone would be unmatched. And because Roger Penske owns both IndyCar and has major a NASCAR team, you could even explore a doubleheader weekend that gives both series a massive shared stage.
The 2027 schedule is already close to being finalized, so nobody should expect this to happen next year. But after watching what IndyCar just pulled off, there’s no reason NASCAR shouldn’t start looking into it for the future.
The politics are messy. The track layout would need serious work. The logistics with 40 cars would be tough. None of that changes the fact that the event itself would be a home run if they could figure it out.
NASCAR has spent the last few years proving it’s willing to try new things and go to non-traditional places.
Chicago worked. San Diego worked. A race in the shadow of the Capitol would be the biggest swing yet.
Kirkwood’s win on Sunday showed what’s possible when everything comes together. The question now is whether NASCAR wants to chase that same kind of moment in Washington.
If they can navigate the politics and make the track work, it would be one of the most memorable stops on the schedule. It’s worth exploring.
The stage is already built. Somebody just has to be bold enough to use it.
