The nascar craftsman truck series is coming to st. pete | nascar

For the first time ever, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will race through the streets of downtown St. Petersburg. NASCAR officials announced Wednesday that the trucks will join the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg weekend in 2026, with the inaugural race scheduled for Saturday, February 28th.

The 1.8-mile street course winding along St. Petersburg’s waterfront will now host both IndyCar and NASCAR trucks, bringing together two of the country’s most popular racing series in one weekend.

The addition marks a milestone for the Truck Series, which had never competed on a street circuit in its 31-season history. The 2026 schedule will feature two such races, with St. Petersburg serving as the opener before the series heads to San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado in June.

The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has long been known as the season opener for the NTT IndyCar Series, attracting national attention and tens of thousands of fans each year. With NASCAR’s Truck Series now added to the lineup, the weekend expands into a unique showcase of top-tier motorsports.

In 2026, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will take place on the weekend of February 27th through March 1st.

NASCAR is using this as both a training ground for its drivers and as a way to test whether the Tampa Bay/St. Pete market could support more NASCAR events in the future.

“Racing in San Diego, racing at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, we want to make sure our development series are racing at track types that allow them to advance and be prepared for the Cup level,” Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR’s managing director of competition operations, said in the announcement.

“The St. Pete Grand Prix allows us to evaluate that market. Tampa/St. Pete is another huge media market,” Hamilton continued.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is the third tier of NASCAR’s three national racing series, alongside the second-tier Xfinity Series and the top-tier Cup Series. Launched in 1995, the series features modified pickup trucks with powerful engines and close-quarters racing.

The Truck Series has earned a reputation for delivering some of NASCAR’s most exciting finishes while also serving as a key stepping stone for drivers working their way up to the sport’s top level.

The 2024 grand prix of st. petersburg | city of st. petersburg

The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has become one of the most prominent annual sporting events in Florida since its debut in 2005.

Originally inspired by the success of the Long Beach Grand Prix in California, the St. Pete event quickly earned a reputation as IndyCar’s “spring break” opener thanks to its scenic waterfront setting, challenging street layout, and festive atmosphere.

Over the years, the Grand Prix has grown into a multi-day celebration that combines world-class racing with a family-friendly festival environment. Fans line Bayshore Drive, Albert Whitted Airport, and the downtown waterfront to watch some of the biggest names in motorsports compete.

Adding NASCAR’s Truck Series to the mix represents the next chapter in the event’s evolution, bringing truck-series professional racing to city streets in St. Pete for the first time.

The move elevates the city’s Grand Prix weekend into one of the most diverse motorsports events in the country, pairing open-wheel racing with NASCAR trucks on the same track. It further cements St. Petersburg’s status as a destination for high-profile sports events, alongside its thriving downtown and waterfront attractions.

The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg featuring the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is set for February 27th to March 1st, 2026.