IROC will hit the streets of Washington, D.C. featuring some legendary names from NASCAR and IndyCar on August 22, 2026 as a support race for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.
IROC Photo
Some of the greatest names in recent racing history will compete in an International Race of Champions (IROC) race as part of IndyCar’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington D.C. the weekend of August 22-23.
The IROC Presented by Chevrolet lineup for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend will feature a star-studded collection of motorsports legends, including champions and some of the biggest stars in NASCAR and IndyCar history. Former NASCAR Cup Series champions Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Bill Elliott will race on the 1.7-mile Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit around the National Mall, alongside IndyCar greats and Indianapolis 500 champions Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti. The drivers will compete in authentic IROC Pontiac Firebirds that raced in series competition from 1996 through 2006.
With the addition of IROC, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend will deliver an unmatched combination of past and present, as legends of the sport return to the spotlight alongside today’s racing stars competing in the NTT IndyCar Series. With world-class racing from IndyCar and IROC set against the backdrop of some of America’s most historic landmarks, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will provide a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
NASCAR Hall of Fame Members Jeff Gordon (left) and Ray Evernham pose for a photo during the 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Charlotte Convention Center on February 01, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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“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.”
Originally launched in 1973, IROC gained worldwide recognition as a premier all-star competition, uniting top drivers from racing disciplines including NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1 and sports car racing to compete in identical cars, placing the focus entirely on driver skill.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham and Rob Kauffman acquired the rights to the IROC brand and revived the series, bringing some of racing’s living legends together for special exhibition races at select motorsports events.
The addition of IROC enhances an already dynamic weekend in the nation’s capital, offering fans a rare opportunity to see some of the sport’s most celebrated champions compete in a format that has long been regarded as the “champion of champions” showdown.
“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.”
Action from a 1999 IROC race with Dale Earnhardt (No. 6) takes the checkered flag to win the International Race of Champions (IROC) event at Daytona International Speedway. Bobby Labonte (No. 2) just edged Mark Martin (No. 12) at the line for second place. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images
The IROC legends will practice and race on the Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit on Saturday, Aug. 22. The former INDYCAR and NASCAR star drivers competing in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix IROC race will also host a free autograph session for fans on Saturday.
Set against the backdrop of the National Mall, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will mark the first-ever NTT IndyCar Series race on the streets of Washington, D.C., serving as a centerpiece of the national celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The free, two-day motorsports festival is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of fans to the nation’s capital, blending North America’s premier open-wheel racing series with historic pageantry.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix logo
Freedom 250
The 1.7-mile, seven-turn Freedom 250 Grand Prix course will wind through the heart of Washington, D.C., circling the National Mall with cars racing alongside some of the most iconic landmarks in the world. The street circuit will feature a high-speed 0.4-mile run down Pennsylvania Avenue, dramatically framed by the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. Pit lane will sit just off the straight between Turns 1 and 2, keeping the crews and cars at the center of the action. The drivers will speed past landmarks including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the National Archives, creating a course that blends technical challenge with an unmistakable and historic backdrop.
Adding IROC to the lineup will fill a gap in Saturday’s schedule, which also includes IndyCar practice and qualifications. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington D.C. will be an historic event, and adding historic names from IndyCar and NASCAR in one of the most historic cities in the world in an IROC race can make it a legendary weekend.
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