A unique but powerful partnership between Penske Entertainment, the Dallas Cowboys, and REV Entertainment, the official events partner of the Texas Rangers has made it possible to race to the streets of Arlington, Texas.
The announcement regarding the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington, which is set to happen in March 2026, was made on Oct. 7 and has already garnered much praise from drivers and fans.
Here’s a look at how the move to partner with three major sports groups to create this race in Texas can help grow the sport.
Collaboration
The new track crosses the city’s primary sports and entertainment district, highlighted by two famed venues recognized by sports fans across the globe: AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and Globe Life Field, home of the 2023 World Series-champion Texas Rangers. The area attracts over 1.6 million ticket sales annually from fans nationwide, and the focus and development of the series are expected to reach unprecedented levels.
Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner, president, and general manager was a big part of this coming together, said he expects a large audience.
“The collaboration between our organizations will make the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington special, providing a unique NTT INDYCAR SERIES race experience for fans attending, while also creating a showcase with our friends at FOX and those watching around the world.”
Last season the series signed Fox Sports as a partner for the 2025 season. The move is already being put to use as Fox will begin promoting the series and the Arlington Grand Prix as early as this Sunday’s Cowboys-Detroit Lions game.
The entertainment capital of Texas 📍
Stream the special @Arlington_GP celebration ceremony from @tx_live now on YouTube 🎥
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) October 8, 2024
On the season’s first Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys earned 23.8 million viewership on Fox Sports. Although those numbers are not sustainable for all games, the fact that they can reach that many people and are using it to promote the race will welcome the opportunity to discover IndyCar.
Now add the reigning World Series Champions, Texas Rangers, to that and the attention toward the series and race will be immeasurable.
Branching Further Out
IndyCar held races in Fort Worth, Texas at the Texas Motor Speedway from its first season in 1997 all the way to 2023 but it was dropped off the IndyCar schedule this year.
So this new circuit will be a welcome back, and what a welcome return it is.
The Arlington sports district is conveniently located right in between downtown Dallas and Fort Worth. The area has been and will continue to be a key market for the series, with a population of 8,100,037 as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2023.
Jones pointed out that around 1,000 Cowboys season-ticket holders are from Monterrey, Mexico, which is also the hometown of popular IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward.
“They’ll all be here for this race, and we’ll make sure they know about it,” Jones mentioned.
This is huge for the series because of talks surrounding having a race in Mexico.
In August, when NASCAR revealed its plans to hold a race in Mexico City in 2025, IndyCar drivers and fans questioned how and why they had been beat out for spot in a country that is home to their most popular driver.
Since then there has been a push to make it happen as an exhibition but potential success of this race with having people from Mexico could warrant it to be a regular on the Indy schedule.
Fun for all
The 14-turn, 2.73-mile street circuit; longest in the series, is sure to make everyone, whether they’re into IndyCar or not, glued to their seats.
Race watchers will take in the views of Arlington’s beloved Entertainment District, the track will also twice pass underneath circuit hospitality and suites, and feature a double-sided pit lane.
And like at every track the layout allows for many overtaking opportunities at Turn 1, Turn 12, and Turn 14.
But what sets it apart from other road tracks is that it features a .9 mile long straightaway. Drivers will be able to display their car’s top speed of over 180 mph. They will then face a tricky braking zone before a sharp right turn at Turn 10 that could easily be a minefield and catch drivers out. And before all of that there is a distinctive “horseshoe” shape in Turn 6.
With the track being so unique, it will be a learning opportunity even for the drivers as they try to navigate the long straights and understand efficiency with downforce that is not necessarily a need on other street circuits.
In an Motorsport.com interview with Josef Newgarden, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner said it will be a spectacle for all. Even for the drivers
“How are you going to stay out front if you’re leading this thing? I think you’re going to be exposed around a track like this. So, it could be very entertaining to watch. It could be a draft fest on that long straightaway. So yeah, that’s what you’re going to be dealing with and we’ll figure it out as we do.”
He then said at the event launch, that the concept of the Arlington Grand Prix gives the series another prestigious event similar to the Indy500 and Long Beach.
More information
The INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington will provide a full weekend of racing and entertainment, with general admission, reserved seating, VIP hospitality and party zone areas available. Fans can register their interest by visiting the newly launched website.
