Red, White And Vroom?: Racing Fans, Legends Take Over DC As America 250 Goes Out With An Engine’s Roar

August 23, 2026 5:22 PM ET WASHINGTON — Crowds of spectators packed recently erected bleachers and stands Aug. 22-23 to watch as auto racing legends old and new sped through a course across the nation’s capital, with multiple D.C landmarks providing the backdrop.For the first time ever, some of the streets of downtown Washington were transformed, albeit temporarily, into a racetrack as it hosted the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, which included competitions for both IndyCar and the recently resurrected International Race of Champions (IROC). The races, organized by the Trump administration-linked Freedom 250, was the latest Washington-based celebration planned in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence.“They said a race in D.C. would never happen,” an announcer’s voice broadcast a