The roar of engines returns to Leeds this weekend as the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix takes over Barber Motorsports Park from March 27–29. Now in its 16th year, the event has become a hallmark of spring in Alabama—drawing more than 85,000 fans annually and welcoming visitors from all 50 states and more than a dozen countries.

Presented by Medical Properties Trust, this year’s race weekend brings three full days of activity, anchored by the NTT INDYCAR Series on the park’s winding 2.3-mile road course. Practice sessions and qualifying rounds build into Sunday’s Grand Prix, while fans can fill their time off the track with a wide range of experiences across the grounds.

The Fan Zone will once again serve as a central hub, featuring a kids area, ferris wheel, food trucks, and the Trackside Social beer garden and bourbon bar. Driver autograph sessions, a vintage car corral, and the INDY 5K add to the lineup, alongside the Racing for Children’s Charity Dinner and Auction. For younger visitors, kids 15 and under receive free admission, making the weekend especially accessible for families.

Beyond the entertainment, the event continues to make a meaningful impact. Proceeds benefit Children’s of Alabama, one of the busiest pediatric hospitals in the country and the largest in the state, serving patients from every Alabama county and beyond. In 2024 alone, the Grand Prix raised more than $400,000 to support its work.

Still, this year carries added weight and significance.

For the first time, the Grand Prix will take place without George Barber, the Birmingham businessman and motorsports enthusiast whose vision brought the park—and the world-renowned Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum—to life. A former racer with 63 career wins, Barber spent decades building what is now the largest motorcycle collection in the world and investing more than $200 million into creating a destination unlike any other in the country.

His legacy will be honored throughout the weekend, including a tribute lap scheduled for Sunday morning, as staff and volunteers wear “GW” pins in his memory.

While the race itself will once again be broadcast to more than 200 countries, the impact of the weekend is felt most strongly right here in Alabama. With an annual economic impact exceeding $27 million, the Grand Prix continues to bring visitors, energy, and international attention to the Birmingham area.

This year’s Grand Marshal, Dale Murphy, joins a long list of notable figures who have taken on the role over the years, from Bo Jackson to Charles Barkley.

As engines fire and fans gather once again, the weekend stands as both a celebration of world-class racing and a tribute to the man who made it all possible—an Alabama story told through speed, community, and legacy.

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