Historic Trans Am doubleheader set for Long Beach GP weekend

Next April 17-19, fans in attendance at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach 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 street circuit in the Historic Trans Am Challenge doubleheader, sanctioned by the Historic Motor Sports Association.

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

Among the cars expected in the Historic Trans Am field are the Chevrolet Camaro originally driven by David Hobbs, as well as the Ford Mustang that was raced by Lyn St. James and Robby Gordon and the Mercury Capri that was driven by Wally Dallenbach Jr.

“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 V8 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 Nov. 10.