The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) introduced the Trans Am series in 1966. The championship was created during the introduction of Detroit's 'American Pony Car' period. The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro proved to be very popular with consumers and the best way for manufacturers to demonstrate their potential was 'To race on Sunday and sell on Monday.'

In 1966, vehicle classification and rules were based on the SCCA's A and B Sedan amateur classes. A Sedan was called the Over 2.0-Liter category. The cars competing in the group were limited to a 5.0-liter engine and provided a platform to showcase the new 'Pony Cars.' The Under 2.0-Liter category included BMW, Alfa Romero, British Leyland and Porsche vehicles.

The Trans Am series and its regulations have evolved over time. The championship has changed the race formats, vehicle eligibility and rules governing the cars.

Currently, the races are 100-miles in length with no opportunity for a pit stop to change drivers or tires and refuel the car. Teams can also compete in two championships – Trans Am Championship and Trans Am West Coast Championship.

Trans Am Championship

  • February 22-25 - Sebring International Raceway
  • March 21-24 – Road Atlanta
  • April 11-14 – NOLA
  • May 10-11 – World Wide Technology Raceway
  • May 24-27 – Lime Rock Park
  • June 7-9 - Pittsburgh International Race Complex
  • June 20-23 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
  • June 27-30 – Road America
  • July 19-20 – Lime Rock Park
  • August 21-25 – Watkins Glen International
  • August 29 - September 1 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
  • October 3-6 – VIRginia International Raceway
  • October 31 - November 3 – Circuit of the Americas

Trans Am West Coast Championship

  • March 1-3 – Thunderhill Raceway
  • April 18-21 – Sonoma Raceway
  • May 2-5 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
  • July 26-28 – Portland International Raceway
  • October 18-20 – Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch
  • October 31 - November 3 – Circuit of the Americas

In 2024, there are five classes – Trans Am, Trans Am 2, Xtreme Grand Touring, Super Grand Touring and Grand Touring. Trans Am, Xtreme Grand Touring, Super Grand Touring and Grand Touring compete in the same event. Tran Am 2 drivers have their own race.

  • Trans Am (TA) – This is the series' quickest class. These tube-frame race cars are powered by a naturally aspirated 366-cu.in. pushrod V8 engine, which produces over 850-horsepower. From a technological standpoint, the vehicles are kept relatively simple – no superchargers, turbochargers, anti-lock braking systems or traction control. The body styles used are the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Challenger.
  • Trans Am 2 (TA2) – These are also tube-frame chassis cars. Unlike the TA category, these vehicles use electronic fuel injection and intake restrictor plates to limit the horsepower to approximately 490. To keep expenses down, the series officials set the maximum price for shock absorbers, wheels, brake pads, and calipers. For example, shock absorbers are limited to $850 each. This category is also restricted to using a four-speed manual transmission with no overdrive. Teams are also prohibited from using superchargers, turbochargers, anti-lock braking systems or traction control. The most common body style is the Chevrolet Camaro, but the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger are also eligible.
  • Xtreme Grand Touring (XGT) – This class was created to give former FIA GT3 cars a place to race. The category is open to a wide range of GT3 vehicles - Audi R8 LMS, Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup, Mercedes AMG GT3 and Chevrolet Corvette.
  • Super Grand Touring (SGT) – In 2019, TA3 was renamed SGT and included many production-based vehicles. Unlike TA and TA2, which are restricted to North American models, European manufacturers may compete in this division. As a result, the list of vehicles eligible for SGT is long and ranges from the BMW M3 to the Dodge Viper. Some cars are fitted with restrictor plates or carry additional weight to maintain parity.
  • Grand Touring (GT) – The Grand Touring was previously called TA4. A wide range of European and American vehicles are also eligible to compete in this group – the list is not as lengthy as the Super Grand Touring category. This is viewed as an entry-level category that only allows limited preparation. To equalize performance, some cars may carry additional weight or the engine may be fitted with a restrictor place.

  • Trans Am launched the Trans Am Pro/Am Challenge in 2021 as a new crossover program to introduce SCCA drivers to Trans Am. The Trans Am Pro/Am Cup Challenge allows SCCA drivers to compete in Trans Am using the same basic SCCA road racing trim for their cars, making the transition back and forth between the SCCA Road Racing program and Trans Am seamless.

Round nine of the 2024 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series was held at Watkins Glen International. Drivers completed in a thirty-lap contest around the eleven-turn 3.337-mile road course.

Twenty-seven CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 competitors enter Watkins Glen International's final corner for the start of round nine. On the pole is Thomas Merrill in the No. 26 HP Tuners / Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang. Beside Merrill is the second fastest qualifier, Thomas Annunziata driving the No. 90 Nitro Motorsports prepared Ford Mustang. The second row is occupied by the Chevrolet Camaros of Carson Kvapil and Jake Drew.
After last year's visit to Watkins Glen, the track owed Thomas Merrill. During his 2023 visit, Merrill had issues throughout the weekend and finished thirty-fifth. What a difference a year makes. The 2022 TA2 champion put the No. 26 HP Tuners / Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang on the pole – his first of the season. Merrill went flag-to-flag for his second victory of 2024. The result moved him to within 112 points of the championship leader, Rafa Matos.
Finishing in the runner-up position by a margin of 5.416 seconds was Austin Green. Green was last year's TA2 Rookie of the Year and his primary focus this season is the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He qualified eighth fastest driving the No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang, but by lap 4, Green was in fifth place. The retirement of Thomas Annunziata and a pass on Jake Drew was rewarded with a second-place result. This was Green's first podium finish of 2024.
The current TA2 point leader is the series two-time champion, Rafa Matos. His season includes victories at NOLA, Lime Rock, Pittsburgh, and Road America. This year, Matos is piloting the No. 60 Ford Mustang for Nitro Motorsports. He did not have a good qualifying session and was ninth fastest, his worst of 2024. Matos started his charge early and was in fourth place by lap 18. In the last circuit, he capitalized on Jake Drew's mistake in finishing third.
Although Jake Drew missed the 2024 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series opening round at Sebring, he sits fourth in the points chase. Drew collected three podium finishes in his first seven starts of the season. At Watkins Glen International, he qualified fourth fastest driving the No. 7 Silver Hare Racing prepared Chevrolet Camaro. Drew was in third place on the final lap, but a hard-charging Rafa Matos relegated him to a fourth-place result.
Nineteen-year-old Thomas Annunziata is often at the top of the timesheets when qualifying. At Watkins Glen, he was second fastest, just 0.087 seconds behind the pole-sitter, Thomas Merrill. But Annunziata has had a character-building season and could add round nine to the list. Early in the race, he kept the pressure on the leader, Merrill. However, on lap 13, the engine let go on the No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang. Annunziata was credited with a twenty-fourth-place finish.
The points leader in the Pro/Am Challenge category is Barry Boes. Boes drives the No. 27 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang.  At round nine, he qualified eleventh overall and first in class. On the opening lap of the race, Boes was hit by another competitor who caused him to have a flat tire. He pitted and rejoined the field in last place. Boes began his march forward and, by lap 27, was in the class lead – his fifth Pro/Am victory of 2024.
The podium for round nine of the 2024 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series at Watkins Glen International. The series 2022 champion and race winner, Thomas Merrill, stands in the center. The runner-up from the 3-Dimensional Services Group, Austin Green, is on the left. This is Green's best result of his abbreviated 2024 campaign. Completing the rostrum is the third-place finisher and current points leader, Rafa Matos.

FINISHSTARTCLASSDRIVERTEAM / CARLAPS
11TA2Thomas MerrillHP Tuners/Cope Race Cars / Ford Mustang30
28TA2Austin Green3-Dimensional Services Group / Ford Mustang30
39TA2Rafa MatosNitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang30
44TA2Jake DrewSLR-Silver Hare Racing / Chevrolet Camaro30
510TA2Tyler KiceraNitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang30
65TA2Ben MaierNitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang30
77TA2Adrian WlostowskiCMI/Spot-On-Service / Ford Mustang30
812TA2Boris Said JrHendrickCars.com/Silver Hare / Chevrolet Camaro30
96TA2Josh HurleyGreenlight Simulation / Ford Mustang30
1011TA2Barry BoesTeam SLR-M1 Racecars / Ford Mustang30
1114TA2Tom SheehanVixenMotorcycle/LTKInsulation / Ford Mustang30
1215TA2Eric CaytonRay Skillman Auto Group / Ford Mustang30
1316TA2Jared OdrickNitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang30
1418TA2Doug Peterson3-Dimensional Services Group / Ford Mustang30
1513TA2Adam AndrettiUltimate Headers Racing / Chevrolet Camaro30
1620TA2Roberto Sabato6th Gear Racing / Ford Mustang30
1723TA2Michele AbbateNitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang30
1821TA2Doug WinstonBring Back The Trades/D&M Elec / Ford Mustang30
1924TA2Bruce RaymondOptima Batteries / Ford Mustang30
2019TA2John WeisbergIrom Smoke / Chevrolet Camaro29
2126TA2Bryan ScheibleAlliance Autosport / Chevrolet Camaro29
2217TA2Jim GallaugherRegulator by Waypointe / Ford Mustang26
2322TA2Cale PhillipsMincey's Graphics/SNP Inc. / Ford Mustang25
242TA2Thomas AnnunziataBayshore Mortgage/Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang13
253TA2Carson KvapilTeam SLR-M1 Race Cars / Chevrolet Camaro10
2627TA2Keith ProciukHP Tuners/Cope Race Cars / Ford Mustang1
2725TA2Ty YoungTy J Young Wealth Management / Ford Mustang 0

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