On February 28, Dario Franchitti will make his first NASCAR start in 17 years, competing in the Truck Series race on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. The four-time IndyCar Series champion will drive the No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, with support from Dollar Tree, marking a highly anticipated return to stock car racing.
This opportunity emerged from a conversation between Franchitti and longtime friend and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. Franchitti told Racer.com about the genesis of the deal:
“I got the opportunity from literally a conversation with Jimmie. I said I thought it would be fun, I thought it’d be interesting to push myself again, to test myself, to do the whole process of trying to be competitive again. Since I stopped, I still do a lot in historic stuff; I’ve gotten to drive some really cool cars against some pretty good drivers. I guess this is more of the same. It’s just a modern truck.”
Why St. Petersburg Holds Special Meaning for Franchitti
The St. Petersburg street course, which also serves as the IndyCar season opener, is deeply connected to Franchitti’s racing career. He achieved a commanding victory there in 2011, leading 94 of 100 laps during one of his championship years. Although Franchitti is no longer competing full-time in IndyCar, he maintains an advisory role with Chip Ganassi Racing, preserving close ties to the venue.
He explained why returning to St. Petersburg for a NASCAR event was especially appealing:
“When this came up with the NASCAR Truck race on the Saturday, I thought, ‘Well, I’m not going to get to drive an Indy car there; I’m too bloody old for one thing, but I love the track, I love St. Pete.”
“Jimmie and I have spent a lot of time together over the last couple years at the track, racing together, racing against each other occasionally, and just having fun away from the track. We were basically drinking a glass of wine, and I said to him, ‘God, that would be fun to do that at St. Pete.’ And the next morning, he calls me and goes, ‘Hey, found your truck!’ Jimmie’s been the driving force behind it,” Dario Franchitti added.
Franchitti’s Racing History and Upcoming Preparations
This upcoming race marks a return to NASCAR trucks for Franchitti, who previously made his only Truck Series start at Martinsville Speedway in October 2007, finishing 33rd in the No. 41 Dodge owned by Kerry Scherer. Additionally, he competed in 18 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races in 2007 and 2008, securing a top finish of fifth at Watkins Glen in Chip Ganassi Racing Dodges. He also participated part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, running 10 events for Ganassi in 2008 before refocusing on IndyCar.
In preparation for the St. Petersburg race, Franchitti is scheduled to test the No. 1 TRICON Garage truck at Sebring International Raceway. The truck is part of a shared entry program managed by TRICON, which in 2025 ran all 25 Truck races with six different drivers, including Brent Crews and Brandon Jones who combined for 16 starts.
Jimmie Johnson’s Role in Supporting Franchitti’s Comeback
Jimmie Johnson, who is also preparing for a packed 2026 season with full-time rides in both the Cup and Truck Series, has been instrumental in facilitating Franchitti’s return. Johnson will compete at the inaugural NASCAR event at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, driving TRICON’s No. 1 truck sponsored by Carvana. Despite the focus on his own comeback, Johnson values Franchitti’s return just as highly.
“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,” Johnson said in a team statement. “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.”
TRICON Garage’s 2026 Lineup and Prospects
For the 2026 season, TRICON Garage has confirmed three full-time Truck Series drivers: Giovanni Ruggiero in the No. 17, Tanner Gray in the No. 15, and Kaden Honeycutt in the No. 11, which was previously driven by championship winner Corey Heim. The team also plans to continue fielding the Nos. 7 and 1 as part-time entries with multiple drivers rotating behind the wheel. The identity of their fifth full-time driver for 2026 has yet to be announced.
Franchitti’s return adds a fresh dynamic to this evolving lineup, merging his legacy in IndyCar with a renewed challenge in NASCAR’s Truck Series. His participation at St. Petersburg not only reconnects him with a historic venue but also highlights a growing crossover between top-tier American racing disciplines.
