NASCAR trucks to hit the track at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg for first time
Firestone Grand Prix track being built in St. Pete
In a few weeks, the Firestone Grand Prix will come roaring back to Downtown St. Pete and preparations for the annual race are underway. FOX 13's Kylie Jones reports.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - On Thursday, leaders of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg gave fans a taste of what’s to come for the upcoming INDY car races.
What we know:
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Peterburg press conference
Community leaders speak ahead of St. Pete Firestone Grand Prix.
Crews will begin working on the track Monday, February 9, for the weekend races of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Kim Green and Kevin Savoree, organizers of the race, said they’ve loved bringing these kinds of races to St. Pete and are excited to bring a new race to the city.
For the first time in St. Pete, NASCAR trucks will take to the tracks and compete.
"They're going to see 30 to 35 pick-up trucks, and obviously they don't have open wheels, they have fenders, so they'll be rubbing on each other," Green said. "Now firstly, they're not really allowed to test, so it'll be a short practice session Friday afternoon, then they qualify. So, learning quickly the racetrack, learning how to get around the racetrack quickly, it's going to be exciting. For the fans, you'll see, there will be some banging. Maybe a few of our walls may get moved a little bit, which we'll have to fix Saturday night."
The organizers also bragged about how quickly crews have been able to lay the tracks.
According to Savoree, 22 years ago, it took 75 days to lay tracks, compete in races and bring the tracks back up. Now, with new technology and organization, it only takes 25 days.
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Chris Steinocher, president and CEO of St. Pete’s Chamber of Commerce, said the races bring much-needed support to local businesses. It is not just tourism, but the crews and team members with INDYCAR that support the local businesses.
The event is expected to draw visitors from around the world.
"When these visitors come in, they are paying local taxes," Brian Lowack, the President & CEO if Visit St. Pete-Clearwater said. "They're spending their money around town. One of those taxes that they pay is a tourist development tax."
What they're saying:
"We do this because it’s fun. We do this because we have the postcard of paradise that everybody loves to see," Steinocher said. "But we do this because our community demands that we create the kind of jobs that these kinds of races do. These are big-money people; these people spend a lot of money to do the things they do. And they expect quality."
Other community members noted how INDYCAR has become a well-known staple for St. Pete, and how it makes a first impression on millions of viewers.
The weekend-long race series will be a homecoming for some of the drivers who are Tampa Bay natives.
"This track has some taste to it," Nikita Johnson a driver from St. Pete said. "It's not a little bit boring like you see on some of those tracks in Europe where it's all flat. So, it's pretty cool. And we have a lot off-camera and on-camera corners."
The backstory:
The 22nd annual Firestone Grand Prix is an event held every spring season. Traditionally, St. Pete is the site of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season-opening race, offering a festive atmosphere with the downtown location.
The temporary circuit is a 1.8-mile, 14-turn configuration that uses the streets circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, The Dali Museum and extends onto the runway at Albert Whitted Airport.
What's next:
Ahead of the weekend races, there will be the St. Pete Grand Prix Party in the Park on Thursday, February 26 at North Straub Park from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is set for February 27 – March 1 of this year.
The 2026 Firestone Grand Prix airs live on national FOX broadcast on March 1.
The Source: This article was written using a press release from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.