The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is steering into uncharted territory, with its first-ever street race now locked in for February 28, 2026. As part of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend, the move marks a true milestone for the series, which has historically thrived on short tracks and speedways.

It turns out, back in 1995, when the Truck Series debuted with a mix of ovals and road courses, including its very first road race at Heartland Park Topeka, it signaled NASCAR’s willingness to experiment. Fast forward three decades, and the leap onto a temporary 1.8-mile street circuit in downtown St. Petersburg echoes that same spirit of expansion.

NASCAR Senior Vice President Ben Kennedy also underscored the significance, saying, “The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is one of the most prestigious street races in motorsports, and we’re excited to bring the high-octane action of the Truck Series to such an iconic venue.”

And, Kennedy’s statement also ties into broader growth, with the series adding venues like Rockingham Speedway‘s return after a 13-year absence, boosting accessibility for fans in new markets. And, what’s even more interesting is that this is a collaboration with Penske Entertainment, which oversees IndyCar, and represents more than just a calendar shake-up.

Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment, emphasized the crossover appeal, “This is a fantastic addition to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding race weekend. NASCAR fans are some of the most passionate in motorsports, and we can’t wait to welcome the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series to America’s premier street circuit.”

This is a big move. It will not only introduce NASCAR’s trucks to a new audience but also strengthen cross-promotional ties. FOX Sports, which holds broadcast rights for both series, is expected to maximize coverage, echoing the success of past combined weekends like those at Texas Motor Speedway from 1997–2010, where IndyCar and NASCAR events together drew crowds exceeding 100,000.

And, the announcement is already sparking buzz on X, with motorsport reporter Adam Stern posting, “@NASCAR_Trucks will compete at the IndyCar @GPSTPETE street circuit next February, a bit of a cross-promotional move as Fox Sports broadcasts both series.”

.@NASCAR_Trucks will compete at the IndyCar @GPSTPETE street circuit next February, a bit of a cross-promotional move as Fox Sports broadcasts both series. pic.twitter.com/h34ELmpZ3w

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) August 20, 2025

And, the community was quick to chime in as well, sharing thoughts that highlight the excitement and nostalgia this brings.

Fans buzz over shared weekend thrills

One fan captured the surprise, saying, “Trucks and IndyCar on the same weekend is wild.” This reaction underscores the novelty, as joint weekends have been rare lately, though the 2020 Indianapolis Motor Speedway event saw NASCAR and IndyCar share the facility for the first time, despite no fans due to COVID protocols.

Another commented, “That used to be common practice back when IndyCar was watchable.” This nods to earlier eras, like the 1990s, when IRL (predecessor to IndyCar) and NASCAR events overlapped at tracks such as Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1997, boosting attendance to ~135,000, before series divergences reduced such pairings.

“I’ve been saying for years that IndyCar and NASCAR need to partner up and put on some weekend events, like Indy running the Daytona Oval leading up to the 500 and having Cup run the Brickyard leading up to the Indy 500. Could work well for both sides.” This echoes successful collaborations, including the Brickyard 400 and Indy 500 proximity in schedules, where 2021’s IMS weekend generated $50 million in economic impact for Indiana.

Someone else noted, “Love when there’s genuine surprise to a schedule release and not rumors or leaks in the months leading up to the schedule release.” The tight-lipped reveal mirrors the 2023 Chicago street race announcement for Cup, which caught fans off guard and led to over 80,000 attendees despite weather issues.

Finally, a fan said, “Wait, that’s actually dope. Gonna be a great race, then FOX gets to see how terrible their coverage of IndyCar is because the truck series is gonna get more viewers than them.” This points to viewership dynamics, with Truck races averaging ~1.1 million viewers in 2025 on FOX, potentially pressuring networks for better integration.