The nation’s capital is preparing for a high-octane addition to the America 250 celebrations this summer.
Federal officials and local leaders on Monday unveiled new details about the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar road race scheduled for Aug. 23 in Washington, D.C., that will take drivers on a temporary street circuit around the National Mall.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Ambassador Monica Crowley, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser revealed the official Freedom 250 race car and course layout during the announcement. Organizers also emphasized that the event will be free for spectators.
Duffy said the idea emerged from conversations with IndyCar team owner Roger Penske, with both men ultimately pitching the concept directly to President Donald Trump as part of the broader America 250 commemoration marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.
“This was a team effort,” Duffy said. “It’s Penske, it’s FOX, it’s the mayor, it’s Interior, it’s everybody else joining together not to make a profit, not to get your name out there but to say, let’s celebrate America. Let’s celebrate America’s birthday.”
The proposed street course will wind through some of the most recognizable landmarks in the country. Drivers will race down 3rd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, with the U.S. Capitol looming in the background, before passing several iconic institutions along the National Mall.
The circuit will take drivers past the National Archives, National Gallery of Art, Hirshhorn Museum, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum before looping back toward 3rd Street.
FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks credited the Trump administration for helping move the project forward.
“A project of this magnitude has to have vision from the very top. We’re here today because of President Trump’s executive order, which literally paved the way for this race to become a cornerstone of our national celebration,” Shanks said. “We want to thank the administration for recognizing that there is no better way to celebrate America 250 than by showcasing American speed and ingenuity than on the streets of our capital.
“For everybody that’s going to be here, no matter which way you look, this is going to be the most distinctly American sporting event that we’ve ever had.”
The Freedom 250 is just one of several major events planned in Washington as part of the America 250 festivities, a nationwide series of celebrations leading up to the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026.
Sports organizations are already lining up to participate. The UFC recently announced a fight card planned for the White House grounds in June, while organizers have hinted that additional concerts, cultural exhibitions, and large-scale public gatherings will accompany the yearlong commemoration.
Together, the events are expected to draw large crowds to the capital as the country marks a milestone anniversary with a mix of sports, entertainment, and historical reflection.
