Kyle Kirkwood just snatched another victory, taking the checkered flag in the inaugural Freedom 250 on the streets of Washington. This win, his sixth on a street course and second street victory of the season, only solidifies his “king of the streets” title. But here is the wild part: that nickname, as cool as it sounds, totally irks Kirkwood. He’s already telling everyone that this win, despite being awesome, is actually a “bad thing” for the title he’s desperate to kick. It’s the only negative he can even find in the whole race!
The Crown He Wants To Ditch
The Andretti Global driver is clearly a phenom when it comes to tearing up street circuits. That Freedom 250 victory followed another street win at Arlington earlier in the season. But Kirkwood is not just looking for more street course trophies. He told reporters he wants to be known for more than just his strength on these urban tracks. To really make his mark, and actually win a championship, he knows he needs to start dominating on ovals and road courses too. Last year, he got that oval win at Gateway, his only non-street course victory, but that elusive road course win? Still hasn’t come, even with “a lot of top fives” on those tracks. He’s got three races left in the 2026 season to prove he can do it all: a doubleheader next weekend at Milwaukee and then the season finale at Laguna Seca. Kirkwood is straight-up saying, “I have to win at Milwaukee and a win at Laguna so I can say I have another win at an oval and a road-course win.”
Chasing That Championship Dream
This dude is a legit championship contender, no doubt. Just look at the numbers: he was seventh in the standings in 2024, jumped to fourth last year, and is currently sitting second in the 2026 standings. He’s 91 points behind Alex Palou, which is a gap, but the trajectory is clear. “Every year we elevate our game. I elevate my game, the team elevates their game,” Kirkwood said, confident he’s on the path to the top spot. He knows going from seventh to fourth to second means he’s “cutting it in half again and the next step is to win.” Andretti Global has been on fire, winning the last two races and clearly surging. Kirkwood is feeling the vibe, especially for Milwaukee, saying, “We’re going to be really good at Milwaukee. I think we’re going to be really good at Milwaukee. We had a phenomenal test there.” He wants his team to join Ganassi and Penske in a “Big Three.”
Momentum Is Everything, Even Off The Track
Kirkwood is dead serious about how you finish a season impacting the next one. “Momentum is a real thing,” he stressed, even when you’re out of the car. He knows coming off strong into the offseason is crucial. He saw it last year: a phenomenal first half, then a weaker second half, and that “momentum kind of hurts you” if you don’t carry it into your offseason work ethic. He’s determined to wrap up 2026 with a “very solid finish” to fuel that fire for 2027. So, with those final three races coming up, it’s not just about the points for Kirkwood; it’s about proving he’s more than just a street course wizard and setting the tone for next year. Let’s see if he can kick that “king of the streets” title and grab those elusive oval and road course wins!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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