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Dario Franchitti To Return To Competition At St. Petersburg
National Speed Sport News ^ | February 3, 2026

Posted on 02/03/2026 8:02:53 AM PST by WhiteHatBobby0701

Four-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti will return to competition in the Feb. 28 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event during the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Franchitti, whose career was cut short by injury, will make his return to NASCAR competition for the first time since 2008, driving the No. 1 Toyota for TRICON Garage on the streets of St. Petersburg.

In a partnership between TRICON, Jimmie Johnson and Legacy Motor Club, Franchitti will drive the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Dollar Tree has joined the effort and will serve as the primary sponsor for the Scotsman’s first NASCAR race in 17 years.

Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished drivers of his generation, Franchitti has a decorated résumé at the highest levels of open-wheel motorsports. The Scottish driver captured the IndyCar Series championship in 2007 followed by three consecutive championships from 2009 to 2011.

His 31 career wins between IndyCar and CART, highlighted by Indianapolis 500 triumphs in 2007, 2010 and 2012, includes one victory at the 1.8-mile St. Petersburg street course on March 27, 2011, in a dominant performance leading 94 out of 100 laps.

(Excerpt) Read more at speedsport.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: firestonegp; florida; franchitti; stpetersburg
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For the first time since the 2013 crash that ended his professional driving career at NRG Stadium in the INDYCAR Houston race, 4-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti will climb into a race car for competition.

He will drive the No. 1 Toyota for Tricon Racing, which is the defending champion team in the Craftsman Truck Series, for the St. Petersburg Grand Prix (February 28, Fox). Franchitti has driven in historic events but this will be his first "true" professional-grade competition since the crash that severely injured him. The race is expected to be 75 laps under controlled safety car rules that NASCAR will use since the pit crews are in Austin. No live pit stops.

1 posted on 02/03/2026 8:02:53 AM PST by WhiteHatBobby0701
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

Very interesting. Will be good to see him on the track again.


2 posted on 02/03/2026 8:05:30 AM PST by Spacetrucker
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

Eh- 3x winner of the 500 who never finished the race under a green lap.


3 posted on 02/03/2026 8:15:08 AM PST by God luvs America
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

Dario started out a Winner even with Team mate Paul Tracy’s disastrous Antics.
Dumping that Ashli Judd is another Plus.


4 posted on 02/03/2026 8:15:25 AM PST by Big Red Badger (Resist Satan's Tyranny )
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To: Big Red Badger; dfwgator
I'm surprised that Any Man survived that crazy woman



Makes me feel sorry for even Michael Bolton...

No, the singer...
5 posted on 02/03/2026 8:18:59 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: SaveFerris

Stay away from bipolar women.

Far away.


6 posted on 02/03/2026 8:22:35 AM PST by sevlex
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To: sevlex

Good advice.


7 posted on 02/03/2026 8:23:43 AM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: sevlex

I can’t stand them. Opposites attract.


8 posted on 02/03/2026 8:44:55 AM PST by BipolarBob (These violent delights have violent ends.)
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To: sevlex
Stay away from bipolar women.

And crazy eyes women.

Maybe the Bagster (RIP) would hit it.

9 posted on 02/03/2026 8:51:21 AM PST by spokeshave ( Angry Dads. Grumpy Grandads, Curmudgeons & old Geezers)
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To: God luvs America

3 Time Winner of The Indy 500 !
I did not know that.
Green or Yellow that’s still
A Super Human achievement and very
Good for the Bank Account!


10 posted on 02/03/2026 8:52:48 AM PST by Big Red Badger (Resist Satan's Tyranny )
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To: sevlex
Stay away from bipolar women.
Far away.

Good advice, but it is difficult to do. They usually have had a long time to perfect the art and can be very sneaky.

See, for instance, Mother Nature, who I claim is often bipolar.

11 posted on 02/03/2026 8:55:40 AM PST by frog in a pot (Government recognition of same sex "wives" and same same-sex marriage is an act of child abuse.)
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

That was a horrible crash in Houston. Car went into the fencing at high speed and debris went over the fence and into the stands injuring 13 spectators. Dario is lucky he survived.


12 posted on 02/03/2026 10:20:04 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: God luvs America

HOW IS THAT THE DRIVER’S FAULT???


13 posted on 02/03/2026 10:25:58 AM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: ridesthemiles

ITS NOT- BUT ITS COMPARABLE TO ROGER MARIS BREAKING BABE RUTH’S SINGLE SEASON HR RECORD WHEN HE HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF EXTRA GAME!!!!! IN ONE RACE HE WON IT DIDN’T EVEN GO 500 MILES!!!!!

see- i can post in all caps as well....


14 posted on 02/03/2026 11:14:28 AM PST by God luvs America
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To: God luvs America

One ended by lightning and rain, the other two yellow-chequered because of final lap incidents.

No different than the pre-2009 MLB rule that a postseason game can end before the ninth inning. Lead when the game is stopped, you win.


15 posted on 02/03/2026 12:38:19 PM PST by WhiteHatBobby0701
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

In essence you are confirming my post 👍


16 posted on 02/03/2026 1:29:17 PM PST by God luvs America
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To: MtnClimber

Just now having watched Darios’ Houston crash for the first time ...
The Good Lord brought Dario through that.
His Car did a Buzz Saw Spin off the Fence like I’ve never seen.
Unbelievable.
.
He Is A Genuine Nice Guy.
I asked him once about The Indy 500 before
He Raced it and said he Really wasn’t
To impressed with it.
Maybe 1998-99 ?
I was done in 2000.


17 posted on 02/03/2026 3:53:42 PM PST by Big Red Badger (Resist Satan's Tyranny )
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To: SaveFerris

Ashley Is a Hideous Person...
First Hand knowledge here.


18 posted on 02/03/2026 3:57:07 PM PST by Big Red Badger (Resist Satan's Tyranny )
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701

Thanks for posting...


19 posted on 02/03/2026 3:58:32 PM PST by Big Red Badger (Resist Satan's Tyranny )
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To: Big Red Badger

Imagine he wins. First we hear God Save the King, then we hear Kimi Ga Yo.


20 posted on 02/03/2026 4:46:39 PM PST by WhiteHatBobby0701
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