Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has entered into a partnership with IndyCar and motorsport magnate Roger Penske to introduce a new race to the 2026 IndyCar season. The joint project involves collaboration with the Texas Rangers and introduces the IndyCar Arlington Grand Prix to the 2026 season. Situated at the vibrant Texas Live! complex in Arlington, the race will feature a 2.73-mile street circuit, touted as the longest on the IndyCar schedule. This venture aims to inject a new level of excitement and economic vitality into the racing scene in Texas. The relationship between Jerry Jones and Roger Penske is not a recent thing; it stems from a partnership dating back to 2006 when Penske played a big role in bringing the NFL Super Bowl to Detroit. Jerry Jones regards Penske as a mentor, especially in terms of transforming competitive sports into solid economic opportunities. Jones said the following:
“Bottom line is that Roger has really been a model for me in terms of how he has taken competitive racing and nailed that into an economic scenario that works. He is my sports man. He changed that mentality of needing (the NFL) to go where you can have sunshine and the ocean. He changed that concept and was very effective.” This longstanding relationship has paved the way for this ambitious new racing event.
The IndyCar Arlington Grand Prix aims to become a landmark event in the IndyCar calendar. The track layout, featuring 14 challenging turns, a double-sided pit lane, and a unique horseshoe-style carousel, promises to bring brilliant racing to the sport for both the drivers and the viewers. The circuit will offer unique visuals, as it passes under hospitality and suite areas. An impressive .9-mile straightaway is expected to witness speeds exceeding 180 mph. Promotion for the event kicked off in conjunction with the 2024 NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions, tapping into the massive popularity of professional football to draw attention to the race. This strategy is supplemented by the involvement of Fox Sports, the new broadcast partner for IndyCar, securing a wide-reaching broadcast and promotion network.
The announcement of this partnership was made in style, with appearances from Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, the Texas Rangers’ Six Shooters Squad, and iconic sports figures such as Hall of Famers DeMarcus Ware and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. Adding to the list of names were IndyCar champions Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden. Newgarden said the following: “When I was a young kid and I wanted to be a race car driver, I dreamed of winning iconic events like the Indianapolis 500. And I think the Grand Prix of Arlington will be one of those events that you want to circle that you have to win every single year. “It’s an honor for us to come race here in Arlington, to be a part of an iconic brand like the Cowboys and the Rangers.”
Jones anticipates a strong crows: “They’ll all be here for this race and we’ll make sure they know about it.” Penske said the following on the collaboration: “When you take the Cowboys and the Rangers and put them with our series, I think it gives us such credibility. I think we’ve stepped out of our shadow. Just standing here looking at these stadiums and what they have built here… it takes an anchor, it takes a tenant. “Jerry has built a massive business here and I think our ability to be part of his team going forward, we’re going to take this to the next level.”
