Two of the most intense open-wheel series on American shores are the SCCA Pro Racing®-sanctioned Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) and Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) Series. Since 2016 for F4 U.S. and 2017 for FR Americas, these open-wheel powerhouses have catapulted drivers onto the center stage, with the likes of IndyCar drivers Kyle Kirkwood, Linus Lundqvist, and Kyffin Simpson, plus IMSA drivers Dakota Dickerson and Hunter Yeany most definitely making headlines – although pigeonholing them as “IndyCar” or “IMSA” drivers can be misleading because in several cases, these drivers jump back and forth between pro series. The point is, F4 U.S. and FR Americas have become a bona fide launching platform for those eyeing the pro ranks – something that was evident in 2025 with two very dominating performances.
Becoming the F4 U.S. Driver Champion in 2025 was Cooper Shipman. At just 17 years of age, Shipman’s season really lit the wick in the second half of the 17-race season. As the F4 U.S. series wrote in its season wrap-up:
“For the next nine rounds, Shipman never skipped a beat, taking checkered flag after checkered flag until he tallied nine-consecutive wins. Surpassing five-time INDYCAR winner Kyle Kirkwood and the inaugural F4 U.S. series champion Cameron Das on the list for longest win streaks, Shipman set a new standard for the series record books. Accruing nine wins, 13 podiums, 14 top fives, 15 top 10s, four poles, and seven fastest race laps, Shipman locked in the championship by the conclusion of Round 15 at VIRginia International Raceway.”
Prepping for his 2026 FR Americas season (very notably, winning the F4 U.S. series comes with more than a trophy – Shipman also receives a scholarship valued at $295,000 to compete in the FR Americas Championship Series), Shipman skipped the final round of the F4 U.S. series in 2025 to get seat time during the FR Americas race. The result was what you might expect, with Shipman landing on the podium.
“Wow, so many people to thank for this year,” said Shipman while accepting the F4 U.S. Championship trophy. “First of all, my parents for supporting me and helping me all the way through my motorsports career to get to this point. Thanks to Scott [Goodyear] for helping me get into this series and get my feet on the ground.”
Clinching the FR Americas title in 2025 was 21-year-old Titus Sherlock. His run to the Driver Championship involved an impressive eight wins, 13 podiums, 17 top fives, one pole, and two fastest race laps.
This was Sherlock’s second season in FR Americas, bettering the fourth-place overall finish he earned in 2024. Best of all, the overall win came with, among other items, a $100,000 cash prize and FIA Super License Points.
“Thank you, FR Americas, as well,” Sherlock said after thanking his team, crew, and more. “I’ve been here for a couple of years and it’s been such a fun time here learning and developing. Of course, thank you to my family – my mom, my uncle, and Bailey back home. Thank you to everyone that’s been watching this season.”
Read all about their victories by following this link for F4 U.S. champion Cooper Shipman and this link for FR Americas champ Titus Sherlock.
Learn more about the F4 U.S. Championship Series.
Learn more about the FR Americas Championship Series.
The year was 1966 and (luckily) the Sports Car Club of America™ had well past the schism created by differing beliefs within the Club that gentlemen racers should not get paid for their time behind the wheel (i.e.: go pro). That year, the Trans-America Sedan Championship was founded by SCCA® Executive Director (and SCCA Hall of Fame member) John Bishop. Now celebrating its 60th anniversary year, the SCCA Pro Racing®-sanctioned Trans Am® Series presented by Pirelli heads into 2026 with a lot to celebrate – like its series champs.
“The [1966 Trans-American Sedan®] championship was open to FIA Group 1 and 2 cars, divided into Over 2.0 Liter & Under 2.0 Liter classes,” it says in an article recently posted to Trans Am’s website, celebrating the milestone year to come. “John Bishop also in 1966 had the foresight to copyright the Trans Am name. This would be strategically important when Pontiac entered the series in 1968 with its Trans Am Firebird, as they would have to pay a royalty to the SCCA for every Trans Am Firebird produced.”
The history of the series is one for the ages, with drivers like Dan Gurney, Mark Donohue, Parnelli Jones, AJ Foyt, Tommy Kendall, Dorsey Schroeder, Scott Pruett, Wally Dallenbach Jr., Willy T. Ribbs, and more taking a Trans Am green flag over the last 60 years. But even today, legends are being made. For proof, you needn’t look any further than those who clinched overall Trans Am championships in 2025.
Let’s dig in.
In just his second full season in the series, Paul Menard earned his second consecutive Trans Am TA class championship, although that battle was a humdinger that saw him go wheel-to-wheel against the likes of Adam Andretti. The overall TA title in 2025, it should be added, came down to the final race of the season.
Future legends are sometimes young – very young. In TA2, fans bore witness to raw talent when 15-year-old Tristan McKee claimed his first title in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series. It took him a few races to get his footing, but by June 2025, he was standing atop the podium. Come season’s end, he’d clinch the overall title before the final race of the season would even occur.
Barely into her mid-20s, the young Kaylee Bryson is another one to watch in motorsports. “In 2025, Kaylee Bryson made the jump to the XGT class in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, moving up from the SGT class after winning that title in 2024,” Trans Am wrote in its season recap, which can be found linked below. “Bryson started off the season on the podium, finishing second at Sebring International Raceway, before following that up with a top-five finish at Road Atlanta.”
Then there’s football star and 2019 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® GT-2 winner Jared Odrick who claimed the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge National Championship, 21-year-old racing phenom Joshua Carlson taking the SGT title, Chris Coffey earning yet another GT title, and more – and those are only Trans Am’s National series. There’s also the Western Championship to talk about.
Read about all of the 2025 Trans Am Series winners below:
For the latest news on the Trans Am Series, head to gotransam.com.
