In celebration of the United States of America's 250th Anniversary, Washington, D.C., has begun hosting an array of patriotic events. The most recent of them all was UFC White House, which took place on June 13. Next up: The IndyCar Freedom 250, set for August 23.
In a recent announcement regarding the event, IROC (International Race of Champions) will run its own exhibition race the day prior, on August 22.
What is IROC?
(Photo by Kevin Kane/WireImage)
The International Race of Champions, better known as "IROC," is a series of races founded in 1973 to bring together legends of the motorsports world. It is not just NASCAR legends, but also many drivers from all over, including IndyCar and others, who are involved.
IROC ended its annual racing series in 2006, but it still remains relevant. The last event they hosted was in 2024 at Lime Rock Park, which featured participants including Bobby LaBonte, Greg Biffle, Ken Schrader, and Mark Martin. IROC returns in August of 2026 to join the festivities of the Freedom 250 race weekend.
Which Legends Are Racing?
Motorsports, especially in the United States, have always been closely tied to patriotism. NASCAR and IndyCar both have always embraced the American flag, and they will now honor the 250th Anniversary with the following list of drivers set to race the IROC Exhibition Race.
Driver |
Accolades |
Jeff Gordon |
4-Time Cup Series Champion, NASCAR Hall of Fame |
Kurt Busch |
2004 Cup Series Champion, NASCAR Hall of Fame |
Bobby Labonte |
2000 Cup Series Champion, NASCAR Hall of Fame |
Rusty Wallace |
1989 Cup Series Champion, NASCAR Hall of Fame |
Bill Elliott |
1988 Cup Series Champion, NASCAR Hall of Fame |
Tony Kanaan |
2004 IndyCar Champion, 2013 Indy 500 Winner |
Helio Castroneves |
4-time Indy 500 Champion |
Dario Franchitti |
4-time IndyCar Champion, 3-time Indy 500 Winner |
Freedom 250 Weekend Explained
The Freedom 250 has been added to the 2026 IndyCar race calendar. The race will take place around the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The total track length will be 1.66 miles with seven total turns.
President Donald Trump was a big advocate for bringing a race to the year-long celebration. As it turns out, the President has a lot of pull, and the race quickly became a reality.
While the Freedom 250 race will take place on Sunday, August 23, IROC joins the fray on Saturday, August 22.
In 2024, Ray Evernham and Rob Kauffman acquired the rights to IROC to bring it back to relevance. In quick order, they got approval to race the Freedom 250 track.
IROC not only brings in legends, but it also races with legendary cars. The bodies taking the track will be Pontiac Firebirds, a classic Trans-Am model. These are what IROC raced towards the end of its annual tenure in the early 2000s.
The details of the race, including its length, timing, and additional participants, remain unknown at the moment. Stay tuned to social media channels for updates to come over the next 9 weeks.
