IndyCar partners with Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers for 2026 street race in Arlington
IndyCar will return to Texas in 2026 with a street race in Arlington in a joint venture between the Dallas Cowboys and the official events partner of the Texas Rangers.
The IndyCar Arlington Grand Prix will be held in March 2026 on a 2.73-mile circuit that will feature AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. The course will weave through Arlington’s core sports and entertainment district.
The joint announcement was made Tuesday before a crowd of fans at the Texas Live! venue.
Auto racing legend Roger Penske joined Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Texas Rangers COO Neil Leibman were on stage for the announcement.
"I look at this as history and opportunity coming together," Penske said.
"I can think of no better vision that would be represented better than bringing the Indy Grand Prix Arlington race here in Texas," Leibman said.
The three-day event will feature an all-star lineup of events and venues.
Two of the top IndyCar drivers were on hand for Tuesday's big reveal.
"When I was a young kid and I wanted to be a race car driver, I dreamed about winning iconic events like the Indy500," said driver Josef Newgarden. "And I think the Grand Prix Arlington will be one of those events."
IndyCar racing is not new to North Texas. For 26 years, Texas Motor Speedway hosted races at its Fort Worth track.
IndyCar had raced at the Fort Worth oval every year since the series debut in the 1997 season through 2023. IndyCar and track operator Speedway Motorsports were unable to come to an agreement for 2024.
Penske putting together a deal in Arlington is a signal that the relationship between IndyCar and Texas Motor Speedway is likely over.
The Texas track was one of the series’ first and most loyal supporters up until the late Eddie Gossage retired as track president in 2021.
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But the market remains important to IndyCar, and Penske has an existing relationship with Jones dating back to the 2006 Super Bowl in Detroit, which Penske both helped secure and served as chairman of the host committee.
However, the street racing event in Arlington will look and feel different than the Texas Motor Sports races.
Arlington's core sports and entertainment district already sells more than 1.6 million tickets to spectators near and far. This pop-up event is expected to drive that number way up.
"What I think of is the interest in racing. We've always known it's there," Jones said. "It not only hits our Dallas Cowboys fanbase but our Hispanic fanbase in a big, big way. So I'm excited for that."
Motorsports veteran Bill Miller on Monday was named president of the Grand Prix of Arlington. He was previously president of California Speedway.
There will be general admission, reserved seating, VIP hospitality and party zone areas available. Fans can register their interest now.
LINK: gparlington.com