President Donald Trump has initiated the first motorsports event in Washington, DC, to showcase the National Mall this August as part of America’s 250th Birthday celebration. IndyCar/Penske Entertainment will administer the August 21-23 Freedom 250 Grand Prix in coordination with the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, the US Department of Transportation, US Department of the Interior, and Washington, DC’s Executive Office of the Mayor.
In an executive order, Trump said, “For over 100 years, American IndyCar racing has set the pace for motorsports. With speeds topping 200 miles per hour, the cars and drivers inspire awe and respect in all who watch this quintessentially American sport. This race, the first motor race ever to be held in our Nation’s capital near the National Mall, will showcase the majesty of our great city as drivers navigate a track around our iconic national monuments in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.”
Roger Penske—whose Penske Corporation owns the NTT IndyCar Series, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and IMS Productions—said, “President Trump has bestowed an incredible distinction upon our sport, and we’re grateful for his trust and support as IndyCar prepares to honor our country with a tremendous racing spectacle. This will be a truly memorable event that celebrates our country’s independence and the legacy of patriotism, innovation, and excellence that powers motorsports across America.”
The street-circuit race will be free to the general public, with vantage points of several majestic symbols of national pride and unity.
FOX Sports will televise the event to a live network audience, and like America itself, IndyCar is “a sport built on speed, innovation, and competition,” FOX Sports CEO & Executive Producer Eric Shanks, said. “There’s no better place to celebrate America’s independence than in our nation’s capital and no better way to showcase that spirit than through IndyCar. Bringing this race to Washington, DC, during America’s 250th birthday is a powerful way to honor our past while celebrating what’s ahead, and all of us at FOX Sports couldn’t be more proud to showcase this event to the country.”
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said, “Freedom doesn’t ring—it revs! IndyCar is about competition and pushing limits—the same things that have always defined America. There’s no better place to celebrate our 250th anniversary than bringing that energy to the nation’s capital and showcasing Washington, DC, to the world.”
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser said, “The race weekend will rev up the economic engine of DC by filling our hotels and restaurants and by showing visitors, residents, and the sports world that there’s no better city, people, and backdrop for major sports events. I invite all sports fans to come enjoy the Freedom 250 and all that Washington, DC, has to offer.”
IndyCar Series driver Sting Ray Robb said even before Friday’s announcement , when this race was just a rumor, that such an event in “DC would be cool. I’m American, man, one of eight in the series, so I’m proud to show it as much as I can. Having partners that believe in same values as myself has been awesome. So America 250 will be exciting. I say that as an American patriot. It would be so cool to see IndyCar flying American flags like we already do during the month of May.
Veteran IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal called this “a massive opportunity for IndyCar… all laid out there on a grand stage. This is a huge opportunity that’s been given to us—hasn't been given to NASCAR, not to Formula 1.”
For more than a century, IndyCar has hosted the iconic Indianapolis 500-Mile Race—annually the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event—the Sunday before Memorial Day. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” serves as a singular and powerful tribute to the United States Armed Forces, with a crowd of more than 350,000 gathering to show respect and gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our military heroes.
President Trump’s full executive order can be viewed here: Executive Orders—The White House.
This event will undoubtedly showcase the spirit of American motorsports and bring a unique blend of speed, innovation, and patriotism to Washington, DC. The combination of IndyCar's high-speed racing and the iconic landmarks of the National Mall is sure to create an unforgettable experience for fans and spectators alike.
