The Trans-Am Series was created by SCCA President John Bishop in 1966. Initially, points were awarded to the top six finishing positions of each manufacturer: 9-6-4-3-2-1. Drivers' Championships, officially recognized since 1972, are awarded based on overall finishing position from 1st through 10th: 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1. In 1980, the SCCA retroactively named overall drivers' championships for all pre-1972 seasons.
The series evolved from a Manufacturers' Championship for modified passenger sedans and coupés to a Drivers’ / Manufacturers’ Championship open to GT style racecars. In 1990, the point system for Drivers’ Championships changed, awarding points to the top 25 finishers: 30-27-25-23-21-19-18-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
In 2009, the series was revived, utilizing SCCA GT-1 based cars. Pirelli became the exclusive tire supplier and presenting sponsor in 2017, replacing Hoosier Racing Tire, and the change to Pirelli P ZERO radial tires resulted in faster average speeds and improved lap times. For 2018, the schedule included 12 race venues, with the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix)-circuit) presented by Lear open only to TA2 class cars. The 2019 schedule saw the series return to Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca for the first time since 2004.
The 2020 season saw the reinstatement of a race at Brainerd, Minnesota, honoring the late Jed Copham, a track co-owner and part-time driver. The season finale was moved to Circuit Of The Americas (CoTA) due to scheduling conflicts. In 2021, the series returned to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time since 2017, and held its first race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, as well as a TA2-only round at the inaugural Music City Grand Prix in Nashville.
The TA class features high-performance Grand Touring cars with a tubular chassis and replica bodies of Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, or Ford Mustang. TA2 class cars utilize a tubular chassis and Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, or Dodge Challenger bodies. The TA Cup class, introduced in 2025, utilizes spec tube-frame vehicles with silhouette bodies built by Chris Evans Inc. (CEI) and produces 600 horsepower from previous generation NASCAR engines. The XGT class is for former FIA Group GT3 cars with expired homologation, while the SGT class accommodates a variety of sports cars and performance coupes. The GT class is intended for nearly stock, high-performance cars, serving as an entry-level class.
Manufacturers’ Championship points are awarded to the top 6 finishing positions of each make of car, using the original 9-6-4-3-2-1 system. Series Champions in each class are determined by points accumulated during the season, with points awarded for qualifying and finishing positions. The Trigon Trophy, sponsored by 3-Dimensional Services Group, is awarded to Series Champions. New for 2018, the Northern Cup and Southern Cup Regional sub-championships were introduced for teams running a limited schedule. The Master's Championship recognizes drivers over 65 years of age, and a Rookie of the Year award is presented in each class. The Trans Am Team Championship awards points to each car/car number, allowing multiple drivers to contribute. In 2021, the Trans Am Series partnered with the SCCA to create the Pro/Am Challenge, allowing SCCA drivers to compete using the 2021 SCCA road racing rulebook.
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