Thirteen years after claiming the first of his six IndyCar victories on the streets of St Petersburg, James Hinchcliffe will return to the Florida waterfront circuit in markedly different machinery. The 39-year-old Canadian is set to make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut during IndyCar’s opening weekend, contesting the inaugural Truck race at the venue.
Hinchcliffe will pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports in what promises to be one of the most demanding introductions imaginable: a full-bodied stock truck on a tight, unforgiving street circuit more commonly associated with nimble single-seaters.
The St Petersburg event, held on the downtown streets surrounding St. Petersburg Street Circuit, has long been the curtain-raiser for the IndyCar season. In 2013, Hinchcliffe stood atop the podium there, announcing himself as a race winner in America’s premier open-wheel championship. Now he returns not as a contender in the main event, but as a rookie in an altogether different discipline.
He will not be alone among IndyCar alumni on the Truck grid. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti has also confirmed his participation, driving for TRICON Garage, the reigning series champions. The presence of two decorated open-wheel veterans lends additional intrigue to what is already a landmark weekend for the Truck Series.
Proven Team, New Discipline
Spire Motorsports arrives at St Pete with solid credentials. The team has amassed nine Truck Series victories to date, including four wins last season, underlining its competitiveness in NASCAR’s third-tier national championship.
| Driver | Team | Vehicle | Notable Credentials |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Hinchcliffe | Spire Motorsports | No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado | 6 IndyCar wins, 18 podiums |
| Dario Franchitti | TRICON Garage | TBA | 3× Indy 500 winner |
Hinchcliffe acknowledges the scale of the challenge ahead.
“It will be a baptism of fire,” he admitted. “My first Truck race, on a street circuit, with no margin for error. But when they announced the Trucks would run at St Pete, I knew I had to try to make something happen. I love this track, and I’ve always wanted to sample NASCAR.”
The move also reunites him with familiar faces at Spire, an organisation with which he has maintained a longstanding relationship. Co-owner Jeff Dickerson revealed that the idea quickly gathered momentum once Hinchcliffe expressed interest, with backing secured from Delaware Life to bring the programme together.
Remarkably, Hinchcliffe will undertake a rare double-duty weekend: racing in the Truck event before stepping into the broadcast booth for IndyCar’s season opener. Having started 161 IndyCar races, claimed six victories, and secured pole position for the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016, he is no stranger to high-pressure occasions. Yet NASCAR represents unexplored territory.
From open-wheel finesse to stock-truck bruising, Hinchcliffe’s return to St Petersburg encapsulates both nostalgia and reinvention—proof that even seasoned competitors can still find fresh challenges on familiar ground.