AUGUST 24, 2026

Kyle Kirkwood wins inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix on National Mall streets

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar street race held Aug. 22–23, 2026, on a 1.7-mile, seven-turn circuit around the National Mall, marked the first IndyCar race in Washington, D.C. Florida native Kyle Kirkwood won the race, leading 128 of 147 laps. The event was organized as part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations.

Kyle Kirkwood, driving the No. 27 Andretti Global Honda, won the Freedom 250 Grand Prix on Sunday, Aug. 23, leading 128 of the race's 147 laps for a commanding victory. The two-day event drew tens of thousands of spectators to the National Mall, with the course running along Pennsylvania, Constitution, and Independence avenues.

The race was assembled in roughly seven months, a compressed timeline that required addressing security requirements, permit approvals, and safety logistics including welding down more than 200 manhole covers to prevent road hazards, NPR reported. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy led the federal coordination effort; Fox News quoted Duffy describing the Department of Transportation as proud to help realize the event.

Pre-race ceremonies included multiple military flyovers, performances by military bands, and a ceremonial lap by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in the presidential limousine known as "The Beast." Trump then waved the green start flag. A bald eagle flew over the track during the singing of "God Bless America." The new version of Air Force One also conducted a flyover, according to NPR.