Trans Am Series Race Preview: Sebring International Raceway

Trans Am’s Beginnings

The Trans-American Sedan Championship roared to life in 1966, the vision of then-SCCA President John Bishop, who conceived the series as a manufacturer’s battleground for America’s booming performance car market. Trans Am featured a mix of FIA Group 1 and Group 2 production-based sedans divided into two fiercely-contested classes: Over 2.0-liter machines like the Ford Mustang, Dodge Dart, Plymouth Barracuda and Chevrolet Corvair, and the Under 2.0-liter contenders, including the Alfa Romeo GTA, Ford Lotus Cortina, BMW 1800, BMC Mini Cooper S, Volvo S and Fiat Abarth 1000 TC.

The series debuted on March 25, 1966, at Sebring International Raceway with the Governor’s Cup, a grueling four-hour endurance showdown. Jochen Rindt claimed overall victory in the Under 2.0-liter Alfa Romeo GTA, while Bob Tullius and Tony Adamowicz captured top honors in the Over 2.0-liter class, driving a Dodge Dart. 1966 would stand as the only season in which an Under 2.0-liter car scored an overall Trans Am victory, with Rindt triumphing at Sebring and Alan Moffatt adding another victory to the category at Bryar Motor Sports Park in a Ford Lotus Cortina.

Paul Gentilozzi Named Grand Marshal

Trans Am Hall of Fame inductee Paul Gentilozzi will serve as Grand Marshal for this weekend’s season opener at Sebring, piloting the pace car for Sunday’s TA race. A five-time TA champion, he is the winningest driver in Trans Am’s TA class with 31 victories, along with claiming numerous poles and podium finishes during a dominant stretch in the 1990s and early 2000s. Known for his fierce competitiveness and technical acumen as both a driver and owner of 3GT Racing, where his team has won the last two-consecutive TA class titles, Gentilozzi helped define an era of TA competition. Among his many achievements, Gentilozzi earned a TA class victory at Sebring in 1999.

TA Sprint Makes Debut

The Trans Am Series ushers in an exciting new chapter at Sebring with the debut of TA Sprint, a new competition platform designed to deliver high-intensity racing in a 35-minute sprint format. The four-track, five-race championship will take the green flag for the first time this Sunday, followed by a race at Lime Rock Park in May. Road America will be a doubleheader weekend with two races in June, followed by the season finale at Watkins Glen International in July. The championship will count a driver’s best four results, and competitors must participate in a minimum of four races to be eligible for the title or associated prize money.

Past Sebring Winners

Nine drivers in this weekend’s field have previously driven to Victory Lane at Sebring International Raceway. Lee Saunders in the SGT class has the most Sebring victories by far, with seven wins dating back to 2014.

TA

Paul Menard, No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang: 2025, 2024

Jon DeGaynor, No. 4 Speed Dream’n Racing Ford Mustang: 2025 (GT1 Challenge)

Matthew Brabham, No. 16 Gym Weed Ford Mustang: 2023

XGT

Billy Griffin, No. 14 Griffin Auto Care Mercedes Benz AMG GT3: 2022 (GT)

SGT

Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper: 2024, 2023, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014

Chris Coffey, No. 97 Traffic Grafix/NAI Racing/GTE Engineering Ferrari 458 Challenge: 2025, 2024 (GT)

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series

Thomas Merrill, No. 26 COPE Race Cars/HP Tuners Dodge Challenger: 2021

Rafa Matos, No. 12 Concord American Flagpole/CNA Ford Mustang: 2023, 2022, 2019

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge

Keith Prociuk, No. 9 HP Tuners/COPE Race Cars Toyota Camry: 2025

In addition to those who have won in the Trans Am Series, Roberto Sabato (No. 61 6th Gear Racing Ford Mustang) has won at Sebring in IMSA’s L2 class, and Matt Griffin (No. 67 Griffin Concrete Construction Ford Mustang) has won at the track in SCCA.

Florida Locals

There are nine drivers who will be racing close to home in Florida this weekend.

TA

Simon Gregg, No. 59 Simon Gregg Foundation Chevrolet Camaro (Ponte Vedra)

SGT

Patrick Utt, No. 49 RaceQuip/Driven Racing Oil Chevrolet Camaro (Tampa)

Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper (Lakeland)

GT

Billy Griffin, No. 14 Griffin Auto Care Mercedes Benz AMG GT3 (West Palm Beach)

GT1 Challenge

Jordan Bupp, No. 11 Hamilton Safe & Security Systems Chevrolet Camaro (Ft. Lauderdale)

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series

Noah Harmon, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro (DeLand)

Rafa Matos, No. 12 Concord American Flagpole/CNA Ford Mustang (Boca Raton)

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge

Roberto Sabato, No. 61 6th Gear Racing Ford Mustang (Bonita Springs)

Matt Griffin, No. 67 Griffin Concrete Construction Ford Mustang (Howey-in-the-Hills)

How to Watch

Every race this season will be broadcast for free on the official Trans Am Series YouTube channel (@TheTransAmSeries), as well as on Racing America.TV and the Racing America 24/7 FAST Channel, available on The Roku Channel, My Free DirecTV, LG Channels and PLEX. Internationally, broadcasts will air on REV TV in Canada. Award-winning veteran sportscaster Allen Bestwick will serve as lead commentator for Trans Am broadcasts in 2026, and Ben Cissell will return as pit-road reporter and fan-favorite hype man on the post-race podium.

Menard a Two-Time Champion, Two-Time Sebring Winner

Paul Menard (No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang) enters Sebring with momentum on his side, returning to the historic 3.74-mile circuit as the winner of the last two season openers contested there, and as the reigning back-to-back TA champion. A third-consecutive victory at Sebring would further cement his recent dominance, but an even bigger milestone is possible in 2026: Should Menard secure a third-consecutive TA title, he would join Trans Am Hall of Famers Chris Dyson and Tommy Kendall as a three-time champion, elevating his name into even rarer company in the storied history of the longest-running professional road racing series in North America.

Andretti Pulling Double Duty

Last year’s TA class runner-up Adam Andretti (No. 17 Top Liner Chevrolet Camaro) faces a demanding doubleheader weekend, balancing the first race of his Trans Am championship pursuit at Sebring on Sunday with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series duties on the streets of St. Petersburg on Saturday. Andretti continues to expand his stock car résumé after making his NASCAR top-three series debut last weekend in Atlanta, where he impressed with a 12th-place finish in the first of four scheduled Truck Series starts this season. With backing from Top Liner, Andretti is also slated to compete at Watkins Glen on May 8 and at the San Diego event at Naval Base Coronado on June 19, in addition to his races at Atlanta and St. Petersburg, all while remaining a key contender in the TA class championship battle.

Missing Faces

Two of the TA class’s most recognizable names, Trans Am Hall of Famers Chris Dyson and Amy Ruman, will notably be absent from this weekend’s season opener at Sebring. Longtime fixtures and perennial contenders in the championship, both drivers’ absence leaves a rare void on the TA grid. CD Racing just announced that Dyson will only compete in a handful of events this year as he takes on the demands of his businesses, while Ruman continues her recovery following a serious off-track accident in late October that resulted in a complex fracture to her right ankle, tibia and fibula. After undergoing two successful surgeries that required extensive titanium hardware placement, Ruman’s rehabilitation is progressing, though doctors have emphasized that the recovery process will be steady and require time. Dyson’s No. 16 Gym Weed Ford Mustang will be piloted full-time this year by Matthew Brabham, while Ruman’s No. 23 Chevrolet Corvette will remain dormant until she returns behind the wheel.

Brabham is always a contender when he gets behind the wheel, as he has earned eight victories and 14 podium finishes in just 16 TA starts. Brabham also has an interesting historic tie to Sebring, as his grandfather, Sir Jack Brabham, clinched his first championship in Formula 1 by pushing his car across the finish line in the only F1 race ever held at the Florida track.

Drissi Motorsports Returns with Full-Time Duo

Past Trans Am TA champions Tomy Drissi (2009) and Simon Gregg (2012) will reunite this weekend at Sebring, with Drissi Motorsports fielding both drivers full time in 2026. The duo returns to action together after closing out the 2025 campaign with an impressive double top-five finish at Circuit of The Americas. Drissi (No. 8 Trench Shoring Chevrolet Camaro) has been especially strong at Sebring, recording top-five finishes in five of his last six starts, including a fourth-place result last season. Gregg (No. 59 Simon Gregg Foundation Chevrolet Camaro) will make his first Sebring appearance since 2021. Drissi also enters the weekend looking to defend and improve upon his third-place finish in last year’s TA championship standings, a campaign highlighted by three podiums and 10 top-five finishes. Notably, Drissi and Gregg are both entering their 23rd year of competition in the Trans Am Series and are two of only five drivers in Trans Am history to capture both National and Western Championships, underscoring the depth of experience and pedigree within the Drissi Motorsports lineup. Drissi scored his Western Championship title in the TA class in 2018, while Gregg won the TA championship in 2019.

Bryson Moves to TA

Kaylee Bryson makes the leap into the premier TA class in 2026, piloting the No. 2 LSI/Team Weaver Racing Dodge Challenger for Weaver Racing Concepts as she continues her rapid rise through the Trans Am ranks. Bryson enters the season with momentum, having captured the SGT championship in 2024 and the XGT title in 2025. With those back-to-back crowns, she joined Amy Ruman as one of only two women to earn multiple Trans Am championships, and she became the first female driver in series history to win titles in two different classes. Now stepping into TA competition, Bryson brings a proven championship pedigree and a history-making résumé to the series’ top class.

New Look for Pintaric

David Pintaric returns to full-time TA class competition in 2026, ushering in a new chapter with primary sponsorship from Birds Eye View Project and a striking new look for his No. 57 Ford Mustang. The updated livery pays tribute to Dorsey Schroeder’s iconic 1989 25th-Anniversary Mustang as a nod to Trans Am’s heritage. A steady presence in the TA class since 2013, Pintaric has built a reputation for consistency.

Birds Eye View Project was founded by Navy SEAL Ryan “Birdman” Parrot and raises awareness and funds to support the challenges veterans and first responders face, focusing on five pillars of life after service: mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellness.

TA Cup Joins National Championship

TA Cup steps into the national spotlight in 2026, earning National Championship status as part of Trans Am’s 60th-Anniversary season. Building on the momentum of a successful inaugural Western Championship campaign won by Ken Sutherland, the 2026 TA Cup National Championship will feature a five-track, six-race schedule at some of North America’s most iconic road courses. The season opens at Sebring (February 26–March 1), continues to Road Atlanta (March 12–15), then heads west for a doubleheader at Sonoma Raceway (April 23–26), before concluding with back-to-back weekends at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (June 18–21) and Road America (June 25–28). Designed as a competitive and cost-conscious platform within the Trans Am paddock, TA Cup utilizes spec vehicles produced by Chris Evans Inc. (CEI), owned by two-time Western Championship titleholder Chris Evans, and runs under tightly-controlled regulations that emphasize driver skill, consistency and close competition. In addition to its new National Championship slate, TA Cup will continue to contest the full Western Championship schedule in 2026.

Thwaits a Competitor and Leader

Long-time Trans Am competitor and 2020 XGT champion Ken Thwaits was recently given a new title: Chief Operating Officer of Racing America. In his new role, Thwaits will oversee all race series operations across Racing America’s portfolio, including the Trans Am Series, Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.), Ligier Junior Formula Championship (Ligier JFC), and International GT. Even with his new responsibilities, Thwaits is still a competitor at heart, and he is planning to vie for the win in TA Cup’s National Championship debut this weekend while piloting his No. 9 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro.

Coffey Coming to SGT

Back-to-back GT class champion Chris Coffey embarks on a new challenge in 2026, stepping into the SGT ranks after consecutive title-winning seasons. Leaving behind his championship-winning Maserati, Coffey will pilot the No. 97 Traffic Grafix/NAI Racing/GTE Engineering Ferrari 458 Challenge as he looks to extend his success into another highly-competitive class. Coffey made his SGT debut in last year’s season finale at Circuit of The Americas, finishing second.

SGT’s Saunders’ Sebring Success

Sebring is home turf for Lee Saunders, the Lakeland, Florida native and driver of the No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper, who returns to Sebring as the winningest driver in the field at the venue with seven-career victories. Saunders also holds the record for the most SGT class wins in Trans Am history with 24, underscoring his long-standing dominance and consistency in the class. Saunders has already experienced success at the track this year, as he opened the season in SCCA Majors competition with a second-place finish in GT2 Race 1 and a third-place result in GT2 Race 2.

TeamSLR’s Latest Lineup

TeamSLR enters the 2026 season aiming to build on the remarkable momentum of 2025. Last year, the team dominated in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, closing out the season by winning seven-consecutive National Championship races between four different drivers. TeamSLR and M1 Racecars competitors swept the TA2 Pro (Tristan McKee), TA2 Pro/Am Challenge (Jared Odrick) and TA2 Western Championship (Brody Goble) titles, amassing 20 victories, 38 podium finishes and 23 pole positions between all three classes.

For 2026, TeamSLR’s full-time Pro roster includes Alon Day (No. 17 JPPI/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro), Lanie Buice (No. 27 Sunoco/Guthrie’s Garage/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro), and Helio Meza (No. 28 Alessandros Racing/Chevrolet/SLR-M1 Racecars Camaro), who already has a series win under his belt from his debut at Circuit of The Americas last November. Joining the team this weekend is Connor Mosack (No. 48 Guthrie’s Garage/Roaring Pines Motorclub/SLR-M1 Racecars entry), returning to the series for the first time since last year’s Lime Rock Park event. This weekend, Mosack will have to balance doing double duty, as he is also competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on the streets of St. Petersburg on Saturday.

Nitro Unveils Seven-Car Stable

Nitro Motorsports is set to make a major statement in its return to the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series this season, rolling into Sebring with an impressive seven-car lineup. The team’s Pro class roster features Ethan Tovo (No. 10 Dick’s Sporting Goods Toyota Camry), Seamus McKendree (No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry), Jackson Tovo (No. 30 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry), last year’s runner up Sam Corry (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry), Vinnie Meskelis (No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry), and Gian Buffomante (No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry), forming one of the deepest and most competitive stables in the paddock. In Pro/Am Challenge, Cale Phillips (No. 99 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) will represent Nitro, chasing the title after finishing third in the standings last season.

Tovo Twins’ Sebring Success

In addition to logging valuable laps at last month’s pre-season test, twins Ethan and Jackson Tovo head into this weekend’s race at Sebring with impressive recent success at the historic circuit. Ethan Tovo swept both GT2 races during the SCCA Majors event at Sebring in January, showcasing strong pace and racecraft on the demanding track. Jackson Tovo also stood on the podium, finishing second in GT2 Race 2 to complete a standout weekend for the brothers. With momentum already on their side at Sebring, the Tovos arrive poised to carry that speed into competition this weekend.

Stanton Barrett Returns to Trans Am with Three-Car Team

For the first time since 2017, Stanton Barrett is set to make his return to the Trans Am Series, this time leading an ambitious three-car effort in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series. Barrett previously made two starts in the TA class, highlighted by an impressive fourth-place finish at Sebring in 2017, and now comes back with renewed focus as both driver and owner of Stanton Barrett Motorsports. The expanded program will feature Barrett in the No. 88 Acellis Nutritionals/8T8 Elite Energy Ford Mustang, alongside Rafa Matos (No. 12 Concord American Flagpole/CNA Ford Mustang) and newcomer Graham Jacobson (No. 19 Hertz Car Sales Chevrolet Camaro), creating a formidable lineup. Matos, a proven force in TA2 competition, returns as the winningest driver in series history with 26 victories and a record three championships, bringing veteran experience and championship pedigree to the team’s 2026 campaign.

Silver Hare Brings a Pair

Silver Hare Racing returns to action this weekend, unloading a pair of entries for the Sebring season opener. This year, the organization led by Maurice and Laura Hull will field Young Guns Noah Harmon and Tanner Reif. Harmon, who finished eighth in the points last season, will once again pilot the No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro, while newcomer Reif will get behind the wheel of the No. 75 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro for his Trans Am debut. Although he is new to TA2, Las Vegas-native Reif has extensive stock car experience, competing in the ARCA Menards Series, as well as ARCA East and West, in addition to several other West Coast-based series.

COPE Race Cars Lead the Field

Chassis builder COPE Race Cars opens the TA2 season with an impressive 16 entries in the 32-car field this weekend, marking the third-consecutive year that COPE has led the way in chassis count at Sebring. Five of those cars will compete under the Mike Cope Racing tent, including Thomas Merrill (No. 26 COPE Race Cars/HP Tuners Dodge Challenger) and Jace Denmark (No. 25 COPE Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro) in Pro, and Keith Prociuk (No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Toyota Camry), Jim Gallaugher (No. 16 Regulator/COPE Race Cars Ford Mustang) and Tom Sheehan (No. 97 Vixen Cycle Co./LTK/COPE Ford Mustang) in Pro/Am Challenge. Additional COPE-supported entries include the seven cars from Nitro Motorsports, three from Stanton Barrett Motorsports, and one from TRB Autosport driven by Matt Gray (No. 64 Ryan Companies Ford Mustang) in Pro/Am. COPE Race Cars made its debut as an approved chassis builder in 2012, though a Cope chassis competed in the very first TA2 race at Road Atlanta in 2010, underscoring the company’s long-standing presence and continued impact in the series.

Pre-Season Success

Before the green flag has waved to kick off the Trans Am season, two drivers in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series have already stood on the podium in 2026. Noah Harmon (No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro) kicked things off with a victory in the Mazda MX-5 Cup race during the Daytona 24 Hour weekend, claiming a win with sponsorship from CUBE 3. Meanwhile, 2022 champion Thomas Merrill (No. 26 COPE Race Cars/HP Tuners Dodge Challenger) finished second in the GS class of the Pilot Challenge at Daytona, sharing the car with Trans Am veterans David Hampton and Martin Sarukhanyan in a standout debut for Circle H Racing.

Odrick Returns to Defend Pro/Am Challenge Title

Jared Odrick (No. 00 Black Underwear/Helium Mobile Chevrolet Camaro) returns in 2026 with a target squarely on his back, as he looks to defend his Pro/Am Challenge title after capturing the championship in 2025. The former NFL player proved he belongs at the front of the field last season, and now prepares for another intense battle against familiar rivals, including last year’s runner-up Keith Prociuk (No. 9 HP Tuners/COPE Race Cars Toyota Camry) and third-place finisher Cale Phillips (No. 99 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry), while also welcoming new challengers, such as teammate Christina Lam (No. 66 Helium Mobile Chevrolet Camaro). Odrick carries strong momentum into the weekend, having opened 2026 in dominant fashion by sweeping all three NASA races at Sebring in January with a statement performance that signals he’s ready to defend his crown.

Young Gun Race Fuels Up

13 drivers competing at Sebring will be eligible for the 2026 Sunoco Race Fuels Young Gun Award, which recognizes the top TA2 driver in the National Championship standings under the age of 25 with a $20,000 prize at the year-end gala. Always one of the most competitive contests of the season, the award was won by Brent Crews in 2022 and 2023, Thomas Annunziata in 2024, and Tristian McKee in 2025. Below are all of the eligible drivers competing this weekend:

Noah Harmon, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro (20)

Ethan Tovo, No. 10 Dick’s Sporting Goods Toyota Camry (15)

Graham Jacobson, No. 19 Hertz Car Sales Chevrolet Camaro (17)

Seamus McKendree, No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry (18)

Jace Denmark, No. 25 COPE Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro (21)

Lanie Buice, No. 27 Sunoco/Guthrie’s Garage/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro (18)

Helio Meza, No. 28 Alessandros Racing/Chevrolet/SLR-M1 Racecars Camaro (18)

Jackson Tovo, No. 30 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry (15)

Gavin Gleitsman, No. 63 GTG Racing Development Chevrolet Camaro (16)

Sam Corry, No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry (18)

Tanner Reif, No. 75 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro (20)

Vinnie Meskelis, No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry (20)

Gian Buffomante, No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry (18)

Birthday Boys

Two drivers in this weekend’s event will be celebrating their birthdays on race day. Young Guns Gavin Gleitsman (No. 63 GTG Racing Development Chevrolet Camaro) and Vinnie Meskelis (No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) were both born on March 1, with Gleitsman turning 16 and Meskelis turning 20 on the day they kick off their Trans Am careers.