More than 150,000 people packed the National Mall to witness the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
While there were a lot of motorsports fans, many were seeing IndyCar racing for the first time, including NASCAR devotees like Carlos Nunez.
“It was nice and loud and fast,” Nunez said with a smile.
Nunez traveled from Pennsylvania in an RV with his teenage sons Christian and Jackson.
“In a NASCAR race we typically sit in the stands,” Jackson said. “This you’re closer to the action, so it was better.”
Another young NASCAR fan, who was standing by the straightaway on Pennsylvania Avenue, was 13-year-old Kian Jahed-Haug of Baltimore.
“I’ve been to a few like car races, but nothing like this ever,” Kian said. “My mom, she got these tickets. Great mom. Mom of the year.”
“Well, I do that for the kid of the year,” his mother, Shereen Jahed said.
Not far away from that mother and son were Jazmon Everson of Laurel, Maryland, and D.C. resident Lanaya Foster. Neither is a race fan, but they didn’t want to miss the experience.
“It’s electrifying seeing all the flyovers, all the people, just being so close to the racers and the cars and the experience. It’s amazing,” Everson said.
It’s hard to appreciate just how fast 180 mph is in person, as Katelyn Gregory, of Montgomery County, Maryland, pointed out.
“My favorite part, I think, seeing all the colors go by,” Gregory said. “You don’t realize how fast the cars are going when you’re looking at the TV.”
Along with military bands marching around the track before the race, there were flyovers, and President Donald Trump did a ceremonial lap and waved the green flag, which pleased Magnolia, Texas, resident Hinze.
“We were such huge Trump supporters, and we think this is a fabulous idea,” Hinze said. “Crashes are interesting, but the race is just the entertainment and the vibe here. It’s very patriotic.”
While 15-year-old Ben Cinque didn’t travel to the race from the Lone Star State like Hinze and his wife, he took Metro from Tenleytown and was also feeling patriotic.
“Kirkwood winning, that was just great,” Cinque said. “Like this is our weekend, and it’s good that American won.”
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