Last weekend in DC, Jeff Gordon and Bill Elliott competed against each other in IROC Pontiacs. Who would have thought?

      SPEED with Harvick and Buxton on YouTube

      The most significant car news and reviews, without any fluff.

      Subscribe to our free daily newsletter for the stories that truly matter, delivered to you every weekday.

      If I heard someone discussing Jeff Gordon racing alongside Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, and Rusty Wallace, I would think they were reminiscing about ’90s NASCAR. However, these legends of American motorsport competed in IROC Pontiac Trans Ams and Firebirds just last weekend. In 2026. On the streets of Washington, D.C. Why was this not mentioned earlier?

      I’m sure someone mentioned it, but being in the car media industry, I only became aware of it after Fox—who broadcasted the race—shared the results. I could have missed the pre-race promotion, but as I looked up the highlights on YouTube, I noticed many commenters expressing the same sentiment.

      The IROC competition took place before the IndyCar Freedom 250, which was marketed as the first-ever street race in Washington D.C. This event received substantial media attention, even being featured on major outlets like Fox News and CNN. It was a 147-lap race won by Kyle Kirkwood, who is a skilled driver, but you’d have a far better shot at getting my uncle to watch a race featuring “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville.”

      To clarify, I’m not criticizing IndyCar in any way. I enjoy the series. However, in terms of marketability, nostalgia holds significant appeal. The IROC race had drivers from various backgrounds competing in similar cars; Indy 500 champions Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves were among the participants, along with road racer Tommy Kendall.

      Jeff Gordon clinched victory in both 10-lap races, with Kurt Busch coming in second each time. (Castroneves and Kanaan took third place in the first and second races, respectively.) This outcome isn't surprising when you have Gordon driving a car prepared by Ray Evernham, one of the most successful driver-crew chief teams ever.

      Can you imagine the buzz this race would have generated if it occurred in the mid-2000s?

      Personally, I enjoy watching the stick-shift V8s from the late ’90s and early ’00s roaring down Pennsylvania Avenue. And even at 55, Gordon is still incredibly fast. Bill Elliott is 70, and I doubt he hesitated to get behind the wheel.

      Let’s hope this isn’t a one-time event, and that we'll see these drivers compete again. Though I’m not counting on it, I’m glad for those who experienced it! It just would have been better if more people had known about the race beforehand.

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