Trump Orders IndyCar Street Race in Washington for America 250 Celebration

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday directing federal agencies to stage an IndyCar street race in Washington, D.C., this summer as part of celebrations marking America’s 250th birthday.

The race, scheduled for Aug. 23, is set to take place on the streets of the nation’s capital and will be known as the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. The event is expected to feature IndyCar machines reaching speeds approaching 190 miles per hour as they race along Pennsylvania Avenue, placing high-performance open-wheel racing against one of the country’s most recognizable backdrops.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the event is intended to be both visually striking and historically significant, positioning the race as a centerpiece of the America 250 observance. Trump, speaking during a White House signing ceremony, said the race could set a new benchmark for motorsports events held in the capital.

The signing event included Roger Penske, whose organization owns IndyCar, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Team Penske. Penske described the race as a major opportunity for the sport while also providing an economic boost to Washington. Organizers indicated that much of the event area would be open to the public at no cost, a move aimed at drawing large crowds and encouraging tourism.

Under the executive order, the Interior Department and Transportation Department will jointly oversee the design of the temporary street circuit. Planning documents call for a route that runs along the National Mall and highlights Washington’s landmarks and monuments, blending motorsports with national symbolism.

The event is expected to bring a significant logistical undertaking, requiring coordination across multiple federal agencies to manage street closures, security, and infrastructure. It also represents a rare moment in which top-tier American open-wheel racing will take place in the heart of the capital, rather than at a permanent racing facility.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is positioned as one of the marquee events of the yearlong America 250 celebration, combining motorsports, tourism, and national pride in a highly visible setting in Washington, D.C..

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Shawn Henry

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Shawn Henry has spent years writing about cars, and it shows—not in a resume kind of way, but in how he talks about them. He's the type who'll notice the weird trim option nobody remembers and actually know why it mattered. At Backfire News, he covers pretty much the whole spectrum: off-road trucks and trail builds, performance cars, racing, and the collector market. He's comfortable getting into the technical weeds, but he never forgets that most people read about cars because cars are fun, not because they want a spec sheet. His beat runs from classic and collector vehicles to overlanding culture, modified performance builds, new automotive tech, and the industry news that actually affects what ends up in your driveway. Mostly, though, Shawn thinks the best car stories are about people—the builds they pour money into, the road trips, the communities that form around a shared obsession. That's the stuff he likes writing about, and it's what you'll find in his work here.

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