St. Petersburg is best known as the traditional season opener for the NTT IndyCar Series. However, in 2026, the famed Florida street course will welcome new and returning faces to its weekend lineup—giving race fans a unique and rare opportunity.

Last week, NASCAR announced its 2026 schedules for all three national series, highlighted by several major changes. Among the surprises was a bold addition: the Craftsman Truck Series will compete at the St. Pete circuit.

This historic race marks not only the first time NASCAR has brought one of its national series to the Tampa/St. Pete market, but also the first street course event in the Truck Series’ 30-year history.

The addition of the Truck Series sets the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable 2026 weekend. With three sanctioning bodies—IMSA (Mazda MX-5 Cup), NASCAR (Craftsman Truck Series), and IndyCar (NTT IndyCar Series and Indy NXT)—fans will be treated to three distinct racing disciplines all on the same stage.

IMSA is no stranger to sharing the spotlight with IndyCar at St. Petersburg. Earlier this year, the Mazda MX-5 Cup hosted two rounds on the streets of downtown. Two years ago, prototypes and GT cars returned to the weekend through the VP Racing Fuels SportsCar Challenge. IMSA has also paired with NASCAR before, as the VP Challenge ran at COTA the same weekend the Cup and Xfinity Series raced there in March.

NASCAR and IndyCar have long shared weekends with their different series, but this three-way collaboration among American motorsport giants offers fans a chance to sample each discipline—and perhaps gain new loyalties.

While many fans will attend primarily for IndyCar, the Truck Series’ debut street race is sure to draw a strong contingent of NASCAR followers eager to witness history.

Though the Mazda MX-5 Cup may not command the same spotlight as IndyCar or NASCAR, its presence only enhances the variety. The sound and spectacle of three distinctly different series competing in one weekend will create an atmosphere unlike anything fans have experienced before.