“This is going to be crazy”
Trump plans car races in the middle of Washington
January 30, 2026 – 11:07 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
US President Donald Trump announces a car race to mark the 250th birthday of the USA. The route is supposed to run through the heart of the capital, but there is ridicule.
US President Donald Trump has announced an Indycar series car race in Washington in August to celebrate the 250th birthday of the USA. The route will run through the center of the capital, with Pennsylvania Avenue playing a central role.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at the White House that entry will be free for the American people. The exact route of the “Freedom 250 Grand Prix” has not yet been determined. However, Trump and Duffy hinted that it could pass through the center of the capital. Duffy described the race by saying, “This is going to be crazy,” as the race cars race down Pennsylvania Avenue at speeds of up to 190 miles per hour. “Freedom, America, speed and street racing – it couldn’t be more American,” enthused the transport minister.
According to Trump’s decree, the race will take place near the National Mall, the green strip with landmarks such as the Washington Monument. The transport and interior ministries should design a route that shows the city’s monuments. Mayor Muriel Bowser was tasked with ensuring the roads and bridges could withstand the race. Washington’s roadways are known for numerous potholes, leading to online speculation and ridicule that the race could be an excuse to fix them.
The race will be the first of its kind in the US capital. In the USA there is already a Formula 1 street race in Las Vegas. Mick Schumacher, son of Formula 1 record world champion Michael Schumacher, will compete in the Indycar Series this season for the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team. He is hoping to restart his motorsport career after previously driving for the Haas team in Formula 1.
