The Trump administration is hoping to host a grand prix event in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday this summer.
“The Grand Prix is an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate our nation’s proud racing pedigree, showcase the beauty of the National Mall, and generate millions in critical tourism revenue for the Capital,” a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation told the Washington Examiner.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is spearheading the push for an IndyCar race on the National Mall in late August, according to Punchbowl News. The race would start at the Supreme Court and cover a full lap around the National Mall, including the Lincoln Memorial. “Pit Row” would be by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
However, legal challenges could derail the festivity. There is an advertising ban on Capitol grounds, and Congress must pass legislation to address it ahead of the race, since IndyCar vehicles prominently feature advertisers.
The Washington Examiner reached out to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’s (D-NY) offices for comment on the status of such legislation.
DOT expressed optimism about the event, despite the likely obstacles.
“The Trump Administration is determined to make D.C. great again, and this race is another example of that commitment. We’ll keep working with our partners in Congress to outline the positive impacts it will have on the District and correct the record,” the department said.
The development comes as preparations to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial have begun to pick up ahead of July.
The Interior Department is renovating a host of historic landmarks across Washington as part of a district-wide beautification effort, White House initiatives to build a new “Triumphal Arch” and a “National Garden of Heroes” are in the works, and America 250 and Freedom 250 events are kicking off nationwide.
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Aside from the grand prix proposal, Duffy has pushed efforts to mark the anniversary through nationwide “freedom trucks,” which would be mobile museums focused on bringing historic American moments to the public.
“It’s important that Americans know our true history, and this is a way to actually bring that,” Duffy told ABC News this week during a bus stop in Summerfield, North Carolina. “Not just to the big cities … so this is going to go to rural America as well, which I think is fantastic.”