CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Ready for More Rising Stars in 2026

The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series has become a proving ground for the next generation of racing talent, and 2026 promises to be no exception to that trend.

The Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series crowned Spire Motorsports development driver Tristan McKee as its 2025 champion at 15 years old. The TA2 platform combines purpose-built road racing cars with the look and power of recognizable American muscle cars.

That provides the perfect place for learning how to race full-bodied race cars against stout competition for young competitors, especially those who hope to chase future success in NASCAR.

“On the TA2 side, it’s the only full-time stock car road racing championship in North America," said Andy Lally, President of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. "And that makes it an extremely special, unique platform to train future NASCAR Cup drivers how to race on road courses. For those drivers to have access to this series at such a young age, it’s priceless.”

In 2023, Brent Crews and Connor Zilisch combined for nine wins in 13 TA2 events. Zilisch is now one of those NASCAR Cup Series drivers, embarking upon his rookie season with Trackhouse Racing. Crews, the TA2 champion that year, now competes part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series with Joe Gibbs Racing.

The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series is a proving ground for those young drivers, as they learn to push the limits in challenging race cars.

“Racing is so challenging," said Gian Buffomante, who will field the No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry in the 2026 TA2 season. |It’s a fight against your competitors and it’s a fight against yourself. I love it so much, because it’s a battle between precision and balls, basically.

“How much can you push this race car without spinning out or crashing or hitting a wall or something? I love being on the limit and racing these cars like that.”

The Sunoco Race Fuels Young Gun Award will recognize the top TA2 driver in the National Championship standings under the age of 25. Currently, 13 drivers entered for the season-opening event at Sebring International Speedway are eligible for the $20,000 prize.

13 drivers competing at Sebring will be eligible for the 2026 Sunoco Race Fuels Young Gun Award, which recognizes the top TA2 driver in the National Championship standings under the age of 25 with a $20,000 prize at the year-end gala.

One of those competitors will be Helio Meza, after the 18-year-old Chevrolet development driver won in his Trans Am debut last November at Circuit of The Americas. He will compete full-time in 2026 in the No. 28 Alessandros Racing/Chevrolet/SLR-M1 Racecars Camaro.

“Growing up as a kid, I played basketball, baseball, soccer, all the sports you could growing up," said Meza about his upbringing. "I remember, for my sixth birthday, my dad got me a go-kart. I remember he walked me down to the garage. He had it in a tarp, unraveled it, and I didn’t know what it was. Then, I remember he pushed me up and down the parking lot, didn’t even start the motor. I was just in awe with this machine.

“The day after, we went to the parking lot, set up some cones, and I did my first kind of little track day in the go-kart. I don’t know what it was, but from that moment on, I was like, this is what I want to do.”

While Lanie Buice embarks on her first full-time TA2 season in 2026 behind the wheel of the No. 27 Sunoco/Guthrie’s Garage/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro is a long-time racer, with experience in both oval and road course racing.

“I feel like I’ve grown up so quick," said Buice. "I feel like racing has made me older than I actually am. I’m 19 years old, but sometimes I feel like I’m 25. I feel like just racing ages you so quickly, especially when you’re in it for so long. I’ve been in it for nine years now, and I just feel like it’s aged me.

"It’s made me older, it’s made me do things that I’m uncomfortable with. It’s made me go out and have to shake sponsors’ hands, people I’ve never met before and just speak to so many different people. It’s really crazy what kind of sport we do and how different it is from a typical sport.”

The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 season kicks off on February 26-March 1 at Sebring International Raceway. Every race this season will be broadcast for free on the official Trans Am Series YouTube channel (@TheTransAmSeries), as well as on Racing America.TV and the Racing America 24/7 FAST Channel, available on The Roku Channel, My Free DirecTV, LG Channels and PLEX. Internationally, broadcasts will air on REV TV in Canada.

-Photo credit: Sarah Glasco