NTT IndyCar Series legend Dario Franchitti is set to make a special appearance in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026.
The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner will compete in the series’ inaugural event on the Streets of St. Petersburg on February 28, driving the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for defending championship-winning operation TRICON Garage.
A legend returns to the grid.
With the support of @LEGACYMotorClub & @DollarTree, motorsports icon @dariofranchitti will join TRICON at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg! pic.twitter.com/UlDDX7ivS1
— TRICON (@TRICONGarage) February 3, 2026
In partnership with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, the organization in which Johnson is the primary owner, Dollar Tree will serve as the presenting sponsor of the entry.
“The thought of racing a NASCAR Truck on a street circuit is really intriguing to me,” said Franchitti in a team release. “The different surfaces, the fact that part of it is on an airport, then you go into the streets, the different bumps, all those things you got to try and master. This was just the chance to race on a circuit that I love, and a chance to do something fun.”
Franchitti does have some prior experience in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, to the tune of a single start, which came late in 2007 when the Scottish driver was exploring a move into NASCAR’s National Series.
Driving for Cunningham Motorsports, Franchitti started 33rd and finished 30th, 52 laps down after a mechanical issue. However, that started his path into competing in the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
After jumping back into the NTT IndyCar Series following 2008, Franchitti ran for the next five seasons before retiring from full-time competition in 2013. Since then, Dario has remained a major part of motorsports through roles as a broadcaster and a driver coach at Chip Ganassi Racing.
The idea of returning to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, though? That came after a conversation with Jimmie Johnson, who will drive for TRICON Garage in the inaugural event at Naval Base Coronado on Father’s Day Weekend.
“Dario and I had been talking for a long time about the chance to race together, so when he approached me about St. Petersburg, I knew I had to get to work,” said Jimmie Johnson. “I called him back a day later with an incredible opportunity to join a championship-winning team with Toyota and the great people at TRICON. It’s been a lot of fun getting him integrated into the team and spending more time together, going through the process of getting him back to racing.”
“I’m so excited it all came together, and thankful that Dollar Tree is going to support. I am looking forward to sitting on the pit box alongside the team and sharing this experience with Dario.”
The inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at St. Petersburg will take place on Saturday, February 28 at Noon ET on FOX, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
