Trans Am Series Event Preview: Road Atlanta 2026

March 11, 2026

Trans Am Series Event Preview: Road Atlanta 2026

VENUE: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
DATES: Thursday, March 12 to Sunday, March 15
TICKETS: AVAILABLE HERE
BROADCAST: RacingAmerica.TV, Racing America 24/7, and @TheTransAmSeries on YouTube
 

NEW for 2026, all TA Class and CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series events will be broadcast for FREE on RacingAmerica.TV, Racing America 24/7, and the official Trans Am Series YouTube Channel. The Racing America 24/7 Streaming Channel is available on The Roku Channel, Prime Video, My Free DirecTV, LG Channels, and PLEX. REVTV will serve as the official broadcast partner of Trans Am in Canada.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE (All Times EST):

Thursday, March 12:

  • 11:40 AM to 12:15 PM – CUBE 3 TA2 Series Optional Test #1
  • 3:45 PM to 4:20 PM – CUBE 3 TA2 Series Optional Test #2

Friday, March 13: 

  • 10:05 AM to 10:40 AM – TA/TAC/GT Optional Test #1
  • 10:45 AM to 11:10 AM – CUBE 3 TA2 Series Practice
  • 3:25 PM to 4:00 PM – TA/TAC/GT Optional Test #2
  • 4:05 PM to 4:20 PM – CUBE 3 TA2 Series (Pro) Qualifying
  • 4:25 PM to 4:40 PM – Cube 3 TA2 Series (Pro/AM) Qualifying

Saturday, March 14:

  • 9:35 AM to 10:00 AM – TA/TAC/GT Practice
  • 12:45 PM – CUBE 3 TA2 Series Race (40 laps or 75 minutes)
  • 3:40 PM to 3:55 PM – TA/GT1/TAC Qualifying
  • 4:00 PM to 4:15 PM – XGT/SGT/GT Qualifying

Sunday, March 15:

  • 12:10 PM – TA/TAC/GT Classes Race (40 laps or 75 minutes)

ROAD ATLANTA is a 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course located in the heart of Braselton, Georgia, which is located about an hour to the Northeast of the big city hustle-and-bustle of Atlanta. The racetrack first opened in 1970, and just two years later in August 1972, hosted the Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli for the very first time.

In that very first Trans Am event at Road Atlanta, John Morton would triumph over Sam Posey, both piloting Datsun 510s, to record the third of six victories that year on the way to a championship season.

The iconic racetrack has also hosted several high-profile events throughout the years, including the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Moto America, and the GT World Challenge America. The venue also played host to two NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events in the 1980s and was the home of the SCCA Runoffs for a 23-year period, and after a hiatus of more than three decades, will do so again in 2027.

The Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli has contested 44 previous events at Road Atlanta, which is tied for fourth all-time in the series behind Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Watkins Glen International, and tied with Lime Rock Park. 

54 CARS will be parked on the premises for this weekend’s events at Road Atlanta to compete across seven different divisions (TA, GT1, TAC, XGT, SGT, GT, and TA2 – plus TA2 PRO/AM). Of those entries, 31 will compete in Saturday’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series event, while the remaining 23 drivers (spread across six classes) will compete on Sunday. Both races will be 40 laps or 75 minutes.

Of the 23 drivers making up the field for Sunday’s event, EIGHT have captured victories in Trans Am competition at Road Atlanta in the past.

Martin Ragginger (No. 7 Top Liner Chevrolet Camaro) and Adam Andretti (No. 17 Top Liner / Service Partners Chevrolet Camaro) are alike in having been to Victory Lane in multiple different classes at Road Atlanta. Ragginger won in the SGT Class (then known as TA3I) in 2015, and five years later, returned to the winner’s circle at the racetrack in the TA Class. Andretti also won in the TA Class, in 2024, but a decade earlier, won in the CUBE 3 TA2 Series. 

Billy Griffin (No. 14 Griffin Auto Care Mercedes Benz AMG GT3), Tim Gray (No. 60 Ryan Companies Ford Mustang), and Chris Coffey (No. 97 Traffic Grafix / NAI Racing / GTEEng Ferrari 458 Challenge) have all captured multiple victories in their respective classes at Road Atlanta. Coffey is the winner of the last two GT Class events at the racetrack, while Griffin is a four-time winner in that class. Gray is also a two-time winner at Road Atlanta, but those victories came in the SGT Class (known then as GGT Class). 

Matthew Brabham (No. 16 Gymweed Ford Mustang) is the defending winner of the TA Class at Road Atlanta and will return to the division this weekend to attempt a defense of his crown, while Ken Thwaits (No. 9 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro), who is competing in the TAC Class, has previously won in the XGT Class (2020). 

Saturday’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series event at Road Atlanta features another THREE previous winners at Road Atlanta, with Rafa Matos (No. 12 Concord American Flag Pole / CNA Ford Mustang) taking the victories in 2018 and 2019, Thomas Merrill (No. 26 Cope Race Cars / HP Tuners Dodge Challenger) winning the overall event in 2024, and Keith Prociuk (No. 9 HP tuners / COPE Race Cars Toyota Camry) taking the CUBE 3 TA2 PRO/AM Series victory last season at Road Atlanta. Last year’s overall winner, Thomas Annunziata, is not in the field for Saturday’s race.

WE ARE FAMILY: Racing is, and always has been, a family-oriented sport. This weekend, as the Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli strolls into Braselton, Georgia for the second event of the season, there are many examples of that on display. Whether it be a continuation of the series’ historic roots, a look into the future of motorsports, or a little bit of both, the Trans Am Series continues to deliver unique stories that include a familial bond.

Simon Gregg (No. 59 Trench Shoring Chevrolet Camaro), a four-time TA Series race-winner and the 2012 Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli National Champion, is back in the series full-time this year for the first time since 2022, driving for Drissi Motorsports. While Simon himself isn’t a winner at Road Atlanta, his father, multi-time Trans Am Champion Peter Gregg, is, having won the 1973 Trans Am event at the Georgia road course.

Gian Buffomante (No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) is tackling his second campaign in the Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, piloting the No. 95 Toyota Camry XSE for Nitro Motorsports. Searching for his first career victory, Buffomante will have the opportunity to lean on his father, Tony, a two-time race-winner in the CUBE 3 TA2 Series at Road Atlanta (2016 and 2017).

Also competing for Nitro Motorsports in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series this year are Jackson and Ethan Tovo. Now, you’ve heard of siblings competing against each other in racing, but very seldom do you hear about twins competing against each other. Ethan drives the No. 10 Dick’s Sporting Goods Toyota, while Jackson pilots the No. 30 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota. The pairing finished fourth and 14th in the season-opening event at Sebring, respectively. 

LAST TIME OUT: The Trans Am Series by Pirelli kicked off its brand-new campaign with a bang at Sebring International Raceway, with the TA, TA Cup, XGT, SGT, GT, and GT1 Challenge Classes all on the racetrack, as well as the CUBE 3 TA2 Series and TA2 PRO/AM Series, and the inaugural TA Sprint Race throughout an action-packed weekend of road course racing.

Matthew Brabham went wire-to-wire to beat Paul Menard for the victory in the TA Class at Sebring. The debut of the TA Cup in the National Championship saw Cole Moore (No. 32 Chris Evans / JM Environmental Ford Mustang) make a convincing first lap pass and hold on for the victory. Billy Griffin finished seventh overall, but as the only driver in the XGT Class, ended up with the victory. Derric Carter (No. 24 PortableHeist.com Ford Mustang GT 500) was in a similar situation, winning the GT Class by default. 

Lee Saunders (No. 84 Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper) took the victory in a stacked SGT Class at Sebring, after polesitter Chris Coffey got hit by a competitor in another class and spun out. Jordan Bupp (No. 11 Hamilton Safe & Security Systems Chevrolet Camaro) was the winner in the GT1 Challenge, leading from start-to-finish over Axel Rivera and David Jans. 

Helio Meza (No. 28 Alessandros Racing / SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro) dominated the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series event at Sebring International Raceway, winning his second CUBE 3 TA2 Series event in his second start. Jared Odrick (No. 00 Black Underwear / Helium Mobile Chevrolet Camaro) was the leader of the drivers in the PRO/AM Class, finishing sixth, and claiming the PRO/AM Class victory. 

Lastly, in the inaugural event for the TA Sprint Series, John Atwell nabbed his first-ever Trans Am victory over Bruce Raymond, James Libecco, and Rob Kacprowicz. 

POINT STANDINGS UPDATE:

TA SERIES DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Matthew Brabham (103pts)
  2. Paul Menard (-5pts)
  3. Martin Ragginger (-10pts)
  4. Adam Andretti (-15pts)
  5. Kaylee Bryson (-19pts)

 

CUBE 3 TA2 SERIES DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Helio Meza (103pts)
  2. Vinnie Meskelis (-5pts)
  3. Adrian Wlostowski (-10pts)
  4. Ethan Tovo (-15pts)
  5. Sam Corry (-19pts)

 

CUBE 3 TA2 SERIES PRO/AM DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Jared Odrick (103pts)
  2. Tom Sheehan (-5pts)
  3. Cale Phillips (-10pts)
  4. Roberto Sabato (-15pts)
  5. Christina Lam (-19pts)

 

CUBE 3 TA2 SERIES ROOKIE DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Vinnie Meskelis (98pts)
  2. Ethan Tovo (-10pts)
  3. Stanton Barrett (-22pts)
  4. Tanner Reif (-26pts)
  5. Jackson Tovo (-34pts)

 

CUBE 3 TA2 SERIES YOUNG GUN DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Helio Meza (103pts)
  2. Vinnie Meskelis (-5pts)
  3. Ethan Tovo (-15pts)
  4. Tanner Reif (-31pts)
  5. Jackson Tovo (-39pts)

 

TA SPRINT DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. John Atwell (103pts)
  2. Bruce Raymond (-5pts)
  3. James Libecco (-10pts)
  4. Rob Kacprowicz (-15pts)
  5. Alan Davison (-19pts)

 

TA CUP DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Cole Moore (80pts)
  2. Ken Thwaits (-5pts)
  3. Matt Crandall (-10pts)
  4. Jim Guthrie (-15pts)

 

XGT DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Billy Griffin (50pts)

 

SGT DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Lee Saunders (90pts)
  2. Chris Coffey (-5pts)
  3. Patrick Utt (-10pts)
  4. Milton Grant (-15pts)
  5. Ray Mason (-19pts)

 

GT DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Derric Carter (50pts)

 

GT ROOKIE DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Derric Carter (50pts)

 

GT1 CHALLENGE DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

  1. Jordan Bupp (80pts)
  2. Axel Rivera (-5pts)
  3. David Jans (-10pts)
  4. Paul Fix (-15pts)

 

GT1 ROOKIE DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP 

  1. Axel Rivera (75pts)

FINAL THOUGHTS – ROAD ATLANTA: 

CUBE 3 TA2 Series: Is there anybody who can stop Helio Meza? The 18-year-old driver continues to have a perfect record in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series after winning the season-opener at Sebring International Raceway earlier this month. To go three-for-three, the hottest shoe in the Trans Am Series is going to have to hold off a stout field of 30 other drivers.

CUBE 3 TA2 Series: Among those entered in Saturday’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series event is NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Andres Perez de Lara, who will be making his Trans Am debut at Road Atlanta. The Mexico City, Mexico-native will drive the No. 8 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro. Also joining the field, in another Team SLR entry is Naz Olkhovskyi, driving the No. 48.

TA: It’s likely to be a highly contested event at the front of the pack, as the TA Class includes multiple former Road Atlanta race winners, like Adam Andretti, and Matthew Brabham (who also went to Victory Lane at Sebring). Paul Menard (No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints / Menards Ford Mustang) has been a contender for the last couple of years at every racetrack, and as Kaylee Bryson (No. 2 LSI / Team Weaver Racing Dodge Challenger) gets more laps under her belt, look for her to be a contender, as well.

TAC: Cole Moore is back in the field once again this weekend at Road Atlanta and will look to go back-to-back in the brand-new TA Cup Class. The field for the event has grown from four to five entries this week with the addition of Phil Fogg, Jr. (No. 67 Chris Evans Race Cars Ford Mustang).

SGT: Lee Saunders, a former winner at Road Atlanta and the winner of the season-opening event at Sebring, will look to follow up his success with another victory this weekend, as he takes on previous Road Atlanta winners Chris Coffey and Tim Gray, as well as Zach Arnold (No. 72 Arnold Machine Porsche GT3 Cup), Patrick Utt (No. 49 RaceQuip / Driven Racing Oil Chevrolet Camaro), Dana Blackhurst (No. 30 The Chandler School Ford Mustang), and Milton Grant (No. 15 Sentry Self Store / Springhill Suites Porsche 992).

XGT: Billy Griffin will collect his fifth Trans Am victory at Road Atlanta on Saturday, as he’s the only driver participating in the XGT Class this weekend. The Jupiter, Florida-native has been to Victory Lane in the XGT Class before, after transitioning into the series last season, winning at VIRginia International Raceway.

GT: Derric Carter is set to go back-to-back to start the 2026 Trans Am GT Class campaign, after his original competition for the race weekend, Brion Gluck, has withdrawn his entry from the second event of the season.

GT1: Jordan Bupp will collect his second GT1 Challenge victory of 2026 this weekend at Road Atlanta, as he’s the only driver entered in the class. Bupp is a former CUBE 3 TA2 Series winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

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