{"id":171526,"date":"2026-02-27T14:47:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T14:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/171526\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T14:47:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T14:47:02","slug":"nascar-trucks-to-hit-the-streets-of-st-pete-for-first-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/171526\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR trucks to hit the streets of St. Pete for first time"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. PETE, Fla. \u2014 This is the first year that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will be hitting the streets of St. Pete as part of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.<\/a><\/p>\n

Some of the waterfront streets of downtown St. Pete have been turned into 1.8 mile 14-turn street course, that serves as the first event of the year for the IndyCar series.<\/p>\n

During the announcement of the addition of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series<\/a>, NASCAR\u2019s managing director said this serves as a way to evaluate the Tampa-St.Pete market.<\/a><\/p>\n

What You Need To Know<\/p>\n

\u00a0NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series takes on street course in St. Pete
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NASCAR using race as a way to informally evaluate the market\u00a0\u00a0
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\u00a0Once again, Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is season-opening event for IndyCar series\u00a0
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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:\u00a0Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, with the street races that we have now at the Cup Series, racing in San Diego, racing at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, we want to make sure that our development series are racing at track types that allow them to advance and be prepared for the Cup level. Making sure we have a street race at the Truck Series level was something that we evaluated. Obviously, they have the first two street races they\u2019ll have in their 30-year history, kicking off with the St. Pete Grand Prix, so it allows us to evaluate that market,\u201d said Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR managing director.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the Grand Prix\u2019s kickoff, NASCAR Craftsman truck driver Daniel Dye said he\u2019s not a big fan of road courses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are hoping it\u2019s not a nightmare\u2026,” Dye said. “We\u2019re hoping to have an okay weekend. But I think if you\u2019re in the front that\u2019s probably the safest place to be.”<\/p>\n

Dye said because its so new, he didn\u2019t have a simulator to train on for this course, making it tough to prepare.<\/p>\n

\u201cI rooted against it actually, but here we are,\u201d Dye said.<\/p>\n

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK Series race schedule for Friday Feb 27th\ud83d\udefb\ud83d\udcc5<\/p>\n

*Please note that only wrist banded fans will be given access to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS Series. Wristband redemption will be available as Gates opens in the Mahaffey Theater. pic.twitter.com\/TwnyIfuT7a<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (@GPSTPETE) February 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Jim Hooker, Chief Flag Marshal for this year\u2019s races, says when he first heard the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series would be at the 2026 event he was nervous for the safety of his more than 100 flag marshals. He said once he adjusted to the idea, he got excited.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something not a lot of people have experienced before,\u201d he said. \u201cCertainly the truck series doesn\u2019t do this a whole lot\u2026 so it gonna be interesting and fun for them as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew Corbett is also working as a flag marshal for the Grand Prix races. This will be his fourth year, and he\u2019s excited to see the truck series.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever you attack a street course you don\u2019t have the runoff that you have on the big speedway\u2026 there\u2019s little room for error and usually mistakes are costly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He says while safety is on his mind, he knows it will be exhilarating.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiterally the only thing between you and cars going over 100 miles per hour on city streets is a jersey barrier and a steal fence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The final round for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is set for noontime Saturday.<\/a><\/p>\n

Friday Schedule at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg\ud83c\udfce\ufe0f\ud83d\udcc5<\/p>\n

*Please note that only wrist banded fans will be given access to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS Series. Wristband redemption will be available as Gates opens in the Mahaffey Theater.#FirestoneGP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bB6WNlhVHW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (@GPSTPETE) February 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n