Overview
- The Freedom 250 Grand Prix took place on Sunday, Aug. 23, on a temporary 1.7‑mile, seven‑turn circuit through the National Mall and along Pennsylvania Avenue and ran 147 laps for roughly 250 miles.
- President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump completed a ceremonial lap in the presidential limousine and the president waved the green flag to start the race.
- Kyle Kirkwood won the event after leading most of the race, while multiple incidents with temporary walls produced cautions and at least four drivers failed to finish.
- Staging required extensive temporary work—welding manholes, installing about 1,800 concrete barriers, erecting grandstands—and the FAA paused flights at Reagan National for military flyovers during the event.
- Organizers and Penske‑backed sponsors financed most of the build (reporting about $35 million for the track) but the event used some federal money and has prompted post‑race reviews of costs, security and museum preservation measures.