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

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 across the National Mall venue during Saturday morning’s practice sessions. He went on to remark he sensed palpable “patriotism,” adding, “I want to feel that 15 times this weekend.”

Patriotism indeed appeared to be the theme of the weekend-long extravaganza which featured two ticketed — but at no cost — viewing areas on each side of the track aptly named “Stars” and “Stripes.” Concession stands — which did feature priced menu offerings — likewise bore names including “Red White & BBQ,” “Freedom Grill,” and “Checkered Faves,” with the latter being a nod to the flag race officials wave to signal a victor. Queueing guests also waited their turn to pose in front of the life-size “FREEDOM 250” and “USA 250” signs set up on the Mall.

“Freedom doesn’t ring, it revs,” declared a large sign visible on a building along the direction the drivers sped.

IndyCar superstars such Àlex Palou, 29, and Josef Newgarden, 35, headlined the high-velocity affair, bringing with them a league of passionate fans from around the world to the stands. The estimated attendance for Sunday’s festivities hit “upward of 150,000,” The Washington Post reported.

They also brought several longtime IndyCar volunteers, including “Yellow Shirts” safety patrol personnel Mark Campbell and Eddie Allison, who have volunteered at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway for 50 and 27 years, respectively. Dozens of such volunteers made the trip to Washington to help make the Freedom 250 event a success, Allison told the Daily Caller News Foundation after Saturday’s first practice session while he and Campbell worked the grandstands on the “Stars” side.

Campbell told the DCNF the Freedom 250 Grand Prix marked his first trip to D.C. The IndyCar veteran volunteer added that he was impressed by what the events’ organizers were able to put together, calling the venue “awesome” and noting it had “amazing views” of the cars zooming past at speeds up to 240 mph.

Saturday’s IROC race — featuring an all-star style series including both IndyCar and NASCAR hall of famers — brought in a host of household names from the 1980s through the 2000s, including Kurt Busch, 48; Jeff Gordon, 55; and Bill Elliott, 70. Also making an appearance was Brazilian icon Hélio Castroneves, 51, who is perhaps best known to non-racing fans as the winner of the fifth season of “Dancing with the Stars.”