{
  "id": 2489880,
  "title": "Introducing the impressive IROC field for Washington D.C. race",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/introducing-the-impressive-iroc-field-for-washington-d-c-race",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T03:42:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motorsport.com",
    "slug": "motorsport-com",
    "url": "https://www.motorsport.com/general/news/introducing-iroc-field-washington-dc/10848080/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The International Race of Champions (IROC) is returning to Washington D.C. for the 2025 Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend. The revived series, set to race on a 1.7-mile street course featuring the iconic U.S. Capitol Building, will consist of two 20-minute races on Saturday, with the first starting at 3pm EST and the second immediately following at 4pm EST.\n\nThe race will feature a star-studded lineup of eight drivers, including NASCAR legends Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, and Tony Kanaan. Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and three-time Daytona 500 winner, will be working with Rick Hendrick as vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. Kurt Busch, another NASCAR Cup Series champion, won the 2017 Daytona 500 and previously earned a spot at the IROC series in 2003. Bobby Labonte, who holds the record for the fastest qualifying lap in NASCAR history, also has an impressive IROC championship under his belt from 2001.\n\nOther notable drivers include Helio Castroneves, an Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time Rolex 24 Hours winner with 31 IndyCar race wins, and Tony Kanaan, an IndyCar champion and Indy 500 winner with 17 race victories between the two series. The full field of drivers brings together a diverse range of motorsports experience, from NASCAR dominance to IndyCar and sports car racing success.",
  "summary": "As part of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend with IndyCar, the revived IROC Series (International Race of Champions) will be on track as well, taking on the 1.7-mile street course with the U.S. Capitol Building serving as a backdrop. There are two 20-minute races planned for Saturday, with Race #1 at 3pm EST and Race #2 immediately following 4pm EST. The field of eight drivers is ... Keep reading",
  "key_points": [
    "IROC returns to Washington D.C. for 2025 Freedom 250 Grand Prix",
    "Star-studded lineup includes Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Tony Kanaan",
    "Races feature 1.7-mile street course with U.S. Capitol Building"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The return of IROC to Washington D.C. brings together a uniquely diverse and accomplished group of drivers, blending NASCAR legends with IndyCar and sports car racing champions, underlining the series' prestige.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}