With FOX possessing the broadcasting rights to both the NTT IndyCar Series and NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series, the partnership of the two for IndyCar’s 2026 season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida, provides NASCAR with a presence in a market where it currently doesn’t exist.
Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR’s managing director of competition operations, says the joint venture also allows the series and the sanctioning body to learn and grow with street course racing.
“Making sure that our development series have races on their schedule that are conducive to what we’re doing with our premier series in the NASCAR Cup Series is very important,” Hamilton says. “Those drivers in development, one day their goal is to get to the NASCAR Cup Series, and to be able to get experience on a street course in one of our lower tier series is very important.”
The Feb. 28 event marks the first time in the truck series 30-year history that it will compete on a street course.
The complete 2026 IndyCar schedule has yet to be announced.
Comments