NASCAR Trucks Roar Into St. Pete: A Historic 2026 Grand Prix Weekend
St. Petersburg, FL — The Firestone Grand Prix is shifting gears in 2026. For the first time ever, NASCAR’s CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will join the action, barreling through the streets of downtown on Saturday, February 28. The addition transforms an already electric festival of racing into a motorsports double-header, capped off by the traditional IndyCar season opener.
Streets of St. Pete Become NASCAR Territory
This won’t be a typical oval under the lights. NASCAR Trucks will tackle St. Pete’s 1.8-mile, 14-turn street course — a circuit that snakes past the waterfront, curves around the Dalí Museum, and stretches across the airport runway. It marks the first street-course race in Truck Series history, rewriting what fans thought they knew about stock car racing.
A Festival, Not Just a Finale
Grand Prix weekend has never been about a single race. Expect three days of roaring engines and back-to-back action: Friday brings practice runs and feeder series, Saturday is stacked with NASCAR Trucks and IndyCar qualifying, and Sunday unleashes the IndyCar opener. St. Pete will feel less like a single race day and more like a citywide motorsport carnival.
Raising St. Pete’s Profile in the Racing World
This move plants a NASCAR flag in one of Florida’s most vibrant cities. By blending the spectacle of IndyCar with the grit of NASCAR, St. Pete positions itself as a must-stop on the racing calendar. National broadcasts on FOX Sports will beam the waterfront backdrop into millions of homes, showcasing not only the competition but the city itself.
How the Deal Revved Up
Event promoter Green Savoree Racing Promotions worked closely with NASCAR and broadcast partners to bring the deal home. The goal: create a weekend that highlights diversity in racing styles while pushing boundaries. NASCAR officials have said the move is both a driver development opportunity and a market test in a fast-growing sports region.
The Countdown to 2026
Tickets are expected to go on sale this fall, and with NASCAR’s debut on deck, demand could surge. Hotels, restaurants, and waterfront venues are bracing for one of the busiest weekends of the year. For fans, it’s a chance to witness history: IndyCar speed paired with the brute force of NASCAR Trucks, all in one unforgettable St. Pete showcase.