Jeff Gordon and Bill Elliott competed in IROC Pontiacs, racing wheel-to-wheel in DC last weekend. Who would have thought?

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      If I overheard a discussion about Jeff Gordon racing against Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, and Rusty Wallace, I'd think it was about NASCAR in the '90s. However, these legends of American motorsport actually competed in IROC Pontiac Trans Ams and Firebirds just last weekend. In the year 2026. Right in the heart of our nation’s capital. Why was this not mentioned earlier?

      I’m sure someone mentioned it, but since I’m in the car media industry, I only learned about it after Fox—the race's broadcasting partner—released the results. I might have missed the pre-race buzz, but while I was watching the highlights on YouTube, I noticed many commenters expressing the same sentiment.

      The IROC event took place before the IndyCar Freedom 250, which was promoted as Washington D.C.'s first street course race. That event received significant media attention, reaching mainstream platforms like Fox News and CNN. It was a 147-lap race won by Kyle Kirkwood, who is an accomplished driver, but I think more viewers would have tuned in for a race featuring “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville.”

      To be clear, I’m not criticizing IndyCar at all; I truly enjoy the series. But when it comes to marketability, nostalgia holds a strong advantage. This was a classic IROC race, with drivers from various disciplines competing in similar vehicles; among the participants were Indy 500 champions Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves, along with road racer Tommy Kendall.

      Jeff Gordon Wins Both Historic IROC Races on D.C. Street Circuit 🏁

      Gordon won both 10-lap races, with Kurt Busch finishing second each time. (Castroneves and Kanaan secured third place in the first and second races, respectively.) That sort of outcome is likely when Gordon is behind the wheel of a car prepared by Ray Evernham, a legendary driver-crew chief duo.

      Imagine how much chatter this race would have generated if it took place in the mid-2000s.

      Personally, I love watching the stick-shift V8s from the late ’90s and early ’00s flying down Pennsylvania Avenue. Even at 55, Gordon still has impressive speed. And at 70, I doubt Bill Elliott hesitated to jump into the driver’s seat.

      I hope this isn’t a one-off event and that we’ll see these drivers compete again. But I’m not counting on it. I’m thrilled for those who had the chance to witness it! It just would have been better if more people had learned about the race in advance.

      Have a tip or question for the author? Reach out directly: caleb@thedrive.com