President Donald Trump made Team Penske owner Roger Penske’s dream come true earlier this week. After more than two decades of trying to bring an IndyCar race to the streets of Washington, D.C., the Freedom 250 finally took place in front of hundreds of thousands of fans. Now, inspired by the event’s success, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins has a request for the racing series he has long loved and supported.
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Collins, like most White House officials, was gassed about the Freedom 250 weekend, which ended with Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global winning the race. And in an interview post-race with Fox News, he was asked about whether this would be a “once in a lifetime” spectacle. Collins disagreed and added that he wants NASCAR to join in on the party.
“I think it should be every year, but I’ve got one to add to it. I’m an old Southern boy. I’m a NASCAR boy. It’s time to bring NASCAR to DC. I’ve already tweeted about it,” Collins said.
That would be quite something. And, quite frankly, it is difficult to imagine. IndyCars are nimble and aerodynamically designed to navigate the tight turns of the 1.7-mile street circuit, which winds past some of the American capital’s most iconic monuments. A stock car, weighing more than 3,000 pounds, would put considerably more stress on the city streets and temporary barriers. But Collins sees things differently.
“NASCAR can handle anything. We need NASCAR in DC as well. Along with IndyCar, two American sports, put them right here,” Collins added when asked about the logistics.
The enthusiasm for the Georgia native doesn’t come as a surprise. On his X account, alongside political topics and glimpses into his personal life, Collins regularly shares NASCAR-related posts. He congratulated Chase Elliott on his win in Texas earlier this year and also posted following the passing of Kyle Busch. His connection to the sport runs deep, and he had already expressed his desire to see NASCAR race in D.C. in a post last week.
“INDYCAR is taking over D.C. Your move, NASCAR,” he said, tagging the U.S. Department of Transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, under the post. And if NASCAR and the France family actually want to consider what Collins is suggesting, Duffy would be the person to go to.
Doug Collins asks NASCAR to get in touch with Secretary Duffy
“Hey NASCAR, call Sean Duffy,” Collins said in his Fox Sports interview. And that’s because he was the logistical mastermind behind Penske’s dream of racing cars next to the U.S. Capitol.
President Trump revealed that Penske had tried to secure the necessary permissions for the race 211 times over the past 20 years. Penske faced roadblocks from certain members of Congress and even from Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office at first. However, an executive order from the President’s office changed the game, with Duffy helping to orchestrate the effort.
The order turned this race into a celebration of America’s 250th birthday, instructed all relevant authorities to fast-track a street-circuit layout plan, and got Penske all the permits he needed from federal authorities to get the event to happen. In another interview with Fox Sports, Penske even admitted that he couldn’t believe how quickly it all came together.
“I can tell you the complexity here has been amazing. We have to deal with so many different opportunities within the city that we need to cover, that we need to have them in alignment,” he said. “The Super Bowl, obviously, is really an event that’s worked on for three or four years. Here, we’ve had four or five months to get ready.”
Duffy even worked as a shield against members of Congress who didn’t support the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. Initially, a route that would circle the U.S. Capitol building was proposed, but when that got rejected, it was Duffy who negotiated the revised layout that ran down Pennsylvania Avenue, past the National Mall.
So, Collins believes that while the logistics of having NASCAR cars, which are roughly twice as heavy as IndyCars, race through the streets of the nation’s capital may seem daunting, Duffy could have a way to make it happen. And although NASCAR has not commented on the proposal so far, it would be premature to assume the idea will simply be dismissed.
Over the last few years, NASCAR has worked extensively to introduce street races to its calendar. The motorsport world as a whole has embraced the concept as well, with both IndyCar and F1 adding more street circuits to their schedules. F1, in particular, has leaned into the idea with its Las Vegas night race becoming one of the most prominent additions.
NASCAR added the Chicago Street Race to its Cup Series schedule in 2023 and held three editions of the event. In 2026, it expanded its street-racing footprint further by adding San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado, marking the first time NASCAR had raced around an active military base. The Truck Series has embraced the trend as well, with St. Petersburg hosting a street race in 2026.
Bringing NASCAR to D.C., however, would be far more difficult than the other races. But members of the government clearly seem interested in making it happen. With Collins pushing for it and Duffy already proving he can get things done, perhaps NASCAR could eventually be convinced to give the idea a shot