Some of the biggest names in recent racing history will compete in the International Race of Champions (IROC) as part of IndyCar’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC on the weekend of August 22-23.
The IROC Presented by Chevrolet lineup for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend will feature a star-studded line-up of sports 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 the 1.7-mile Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit around the National Mall, alongside IndyCar stars and Indianapolis 500 champions Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti. Drivers will compete in authentic IROC Pontiac Firebirds that raced in series competition from 1996 to 2006.
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With the addition of IROC, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend will bring an unparalleled blend of past and present, as legends of the sport return to the spotlight and today’s racing stars compete in the NTT IndyCar Series. With world-class racing from IndyCar and IROC set behind some of America’s most famous 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, IROC Principal. “Seeing IndyCar and IROC race in such a pristine setting, behind some of our country’s most iconic venues, will be truly special for competitors and fans alike. We are honored to have IROC at the festival and look forward to putting on a great show for the fans.”
First launched in 1973, the IROC has gained worldwide recognition as an all-star competition, bringing together top drivers from racing disciplines including NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1 and sports car racing to compete in similar cars, focusing entirely on driver skill.
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NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham and Rob Kauffman acquired the rights to the IROC brand and revived the series, bringing together the living legends of racing in special exhibition races at motorsport events.
The addition of the IROC enhances an already strong weekend in the nation’s capital, giving fans a rare opportunity to see the sport’s most respected champions compete in what has long been considered the “champions of champions”.
“We are proud to welcome the International Race of Champions to the Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend, as we honor the history of racing by bringing the greatest heroes of the sport to this already legendary weekend,” said Bud Denker, Chairman of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. “The IROC has always represented the best, bringing together champions from all motorsports to compete on equal footing. From current IndyCar stars to NASCAR and IndyCar champions, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will be a celebration of racing past and present competing at one of the world’s most historic venues.”
Action from the 1999 IROC race with Dale Earnhardt (No. 6) taking the checkered flag to win the International Race of Champions (IROC) event at Daytona International Speedway. Bobby Labonte (No. 2) just edged out Mark Martin (No. 12) for second place. (Image via ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
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Schedule for the IROC Liberty 250 Grand Prix of Washington, DC
The IROC veterans will practice and race on the Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit on Saturday, Aug. 22. Former INDYCAR and NASCAR drivers who compete in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix IROC race will also host a free autograph session for fans on Saturday.
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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, DC, serving as the centerpiece of the national celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The free, two-day festival of motorsports is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of fans to the nation’s capital, mixing North America’s premier open-wheel racing series with historic history.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix logo
Freedom 250
The 1.7-mile, seven-turn Freedom 250 Grand Prix course will go through the heart of Washington, DC, around the National Mall with cars racing past some of the world’s strangest landmarks. The circuit will have a high speed 0.4 mile run down Pennsylvania Avenue, framed by the Washington Monument and the US Capitol. The pit lane will remain straight between turns 1 and 2, keeping the crew and cars in the middle of the action. 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 combines a technical challenge with an undeniable and historic background.
Adding IROC to the lineup will fill a gap in Saturday’s schedule, which includes IndyCar practice and qualifying. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC will be a historic event, and adding historic names from IndyCar and NASCAR to one of the world’s most historic cities for an IROC race would make for a legendary weekend.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
