The Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend just added some star power.
Several retired motorsports legends will compete in an International Race of Champions (IROC) event before the IndyCar race through the streets of Washington D.C.
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Former NASCAR Cup Series champions Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Bill Elliott, along with Indy 500 winners Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti, will race on the 1.7-mile street circuit around the National Mall on Saturday, Aug. 22.
IROC launched in 1973 as an all-star racing competition for the top drivers in different disciplines like NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1 and sports cars. Drivers would race in identical cars to put the focus on individual skill, proving who the best in the world were.
The series folded in 2006, but NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham and Rob Kauffman revived the series when they bought the rights to it in 2024. Evernham, who was Gordon’s crew chief for three of his four NASCAR titles, apparently enticed his former driver to come out of retirement and compete again. Gordon finished second to Busch in an IROC exhibition event in North Carolina earlier this year.
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Gordon, who turns 55 in August, hasn’t raced in NASCAR since 2016. Other drivers competing in IROC have been in the competitive races more recently, including Busch (NASCAR Cup Series in 2022), Franchitti (NASCAR Truck Series in 2026) and Castroneves (IndyCar in 2026).
“The Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend represents a truly unique opportunity for motorsports and our country,” said Evernham, Co-Principal of IROC. “To see INDYCAR and IROC race on such hallowed ground, against the backdrop of some of our nation’s most iconic landmarks, will be something truly special for competitors and fans alike. We are honored to have IROC included in the festivities and we look forward to putting on a great show for the fans.”
The drivers will host a free autograph session for fans on Aug. 22 while also practicing and racing on the same day. The IndyCar race will be the following day, Sunday, Aug. 23.
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