Trans-Am Racing at Acura Grand Prix Details

Next April 17-19, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach fans will experience the sights and sounds of the second generation of American muscle car power that defined Trans Am racing from the 1970s through 1991, when the vintage machines take to the iconic racetrack in the Historic Trans Am Challenge doubleheader.

The twin 20-minute races will run Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, with practice and qualifying on Friday, April 17.

Trans Am, short for the Trans-American Championship, is a racing series that started in 1966 and runs to this day at tracks across the U.S. The second generation of Trans-Am featured high-horsepower cars from marques like AMC, Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, Jaguar, Mercury, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Porsche and more with a list of well-known drivers that included Tommy Kendall, Scott Pruett, Robby Gordon, Wally Dallenbach Jr., Greg Pickett, David Hobbs and Lyn St. James, along with many others.

Among the cars expected in the Historic Trans Am field are Hobbs’ Chevrolet Camaro, as well the Ford Mustang driven by St. James and Gordon and the Mercury Capri driven by Dallenbach.

The historic event at Long Beach will be sanctioned by the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA).

“Bringing historic, second-generation Trans-Am cars to Long Beach is a thrill for all of us at HMSA,” said Cris Vandagriff, President of HMSA. “These machines capture the raw, American V-8 spirit that helped define an era, and there’s no better stage than the Long Beach street circuit for fans to see, hear, and feel that history come alive. We’re proud to showcase the craftsmanship of the owners, the authenticity of the cars, and the enduring legacy of Trans Am racing during an exciting weekend.”

“Bringing these incredible historic Trans-Am cars to Long Beach adds a visceral new dimension to our weekend – the thunder of V-8 engines echoing off the waterfront and through our city streets is pure motorsport theater,” said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian. “It’s a tribute to the heritage that inspired a generation of fans and competitors, and we’re thrilled to partner with HMSA to bring this iconic chapter of racing back to Long Beach.”

In addition to the Historic Trans Am doubleheader, the 2026 Acura Grand Prix will be headlined by the fifth round of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the third round of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Formula Drift Super Drift Challenge invitational and Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks will also run races during the weekend, with one additional race to be announced.

Tickets will go on sale to the public on November 10. For more information, visit gplb.com or call the Ticket Office at (888) 827-7333.