Kyle Kirkwood hangs on to win Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington

President Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C. The president meets with racing officials and drivers on the track before waving the green flag for the historic street race.

WASHINGTON – Kyle Kirkwood crossed the finish line in first place to win the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., on Sunday afternoon.

Kirkwood, one of a few American drivers in the race, took the lead from Álex Palou early in the race and didn’t look back. He showed pace all weekend and was especially strong in the race, with only Palou able to keep up with him at times.

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However, some late cautions erased much of Kirkwood's work, and presented a golden opportunity to Arrow McLaren's Christian Lundgaard.

Mario Andretti greets driver Kyle Kirkwood (27) after he won the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026.  (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Lundgaard — who is currently without a drive for next season — was strong early in the final green flag run thanks to his red alternate tires, an advantage over Kirkwood's primary set, but it seemed like they started to fall off as the laps wound down.

Kirkwood was followed by Lundgaard in second, while Kirkwood's Andretti Global teammate Will Power took the last step of the podium.

The win was crucial for Kirkwood's championship hopes as it cut Palou's championship lead down to 91 points.

Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the #27 Sam's Club Honda celebrates with his crew after winning the NTT INDYCAR Series Freedom 250 on Aug. 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The Spaniard had a rough day at the office. He was dealt a drive-thru