The International Race of Champions (IROC) is set to make a high‑profile comeback in the nation’s capital, staging two back‑to‑back races on a 1.7‑mile street circuit that winds past the iconic U.S. Capitol Building, with the monument’s dome providing a striking backdrop for the event.
Historic Return to the Capital
The revived IROC Series will host two 20‑minute races on Saturday, with Race #1 scheduled for 3 p.m. EST and Race #2 at 4 p.m. EST, both forming part of the broader Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend that also features IndyCar competition.
Legends of the Grid
Eight drivers will line up, blending NASCAR stalwarts with IndyCar veterans. Among them are four‑time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, 2023 Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch, and 2022 Daytona 500 champion Bill Elliott, alongside IndyCar icons Helio Castroneves, a four‑time Indianapolis 500 winner, and Tony Kanaan, the 2013 series champion.
A Spectacle Against the Capitol
The street layout not only challenges drivers with tight turns and elevation changes but also offers spectators a rare view of the Capitol’s neoclassical façade, turning the race into a moving tribute to American heritage.
Legacy Drivers Take the Wheel
Additional entries include Bobby Labonte, the oldest driver to claim a Superstar Racing Experience victory, and Tommy Kendall, a four‑time Trans‑Am champion and IMSA titleholder, ensuring a diverse mix of racing pedigrees.
Fans can expect a compact yet intense display of skill, where each lap may rewrite the narrative of a series that has long celebrated the camaraderie of motorsport’s biggest names.