One week after making a strong debut in the Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series, Turner Brown will be making his first start with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli.
Brown is entered in the No. 28 LIYT Hydration/Niagara Water/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro for this weekend's Trans Am Series Western Championship event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The team is competing in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Western Championship this weekend, with a doubleheader on tap for Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4.
The Alamo, California driver will also be continuing a family tradition in Trans Am. Brown is the grandson for Trans Am Hall of Famer Greg Pickett, the 1978 Trans Am Category II champion and two-time Trans Am Series Western Championship title holder.
“My goal is definitely to compete well and try to have a great weekend, obviously, results-wise," said Brown. "But mainly, it’s just getting the gist of the cars, staying out of trouble, being smart and adapting to the scenarios. Whatever happens, happens. Obviously, I’d love to go out there and do well in the races.”
Brown went to victory lane in his first start in Five Flags Speedway's Pro Late Model division last Saturday. Brown took the lead from Dustin Smith on a restart with 25 laps to go, pulling off a crossover move on the exit of turn two. He pulled away for a three-second win over series champion Jake Finch.
The victory continues what had already been an incredibly successful 2026 season across a variety of oval racing series. Brown won four INEX Thursday Thunder feature races in the Young Lions division at EchoPark Speedway and scored a win in the prestigious INEX Summer Shootout series at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Brown followed that by winning back-to-back races on the CARS Tour Northwest Pro Late Model Series at Evergreen Speedway and Tri-City Raceway, making a last-lap pass on Ethan Ebert to win at Tri-City.
While Brown has been focused primarily on oval racing in 2026, he is no stranger to road course competition. In 2024, he was selected to represent the United States in the 2024 FIA Karting Academy Trophy program. Brown competed in some of the most prestigious international karting championships, including the 2025 FIA Karting World Championship and the WSK Super Master Series.
Brown will look to take that vast experience from his young career into his Trans Am debut this weekend at Laguna Seca. Outside of a test two weeks ago, this will be Brown's first experience in a CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series car, and his first time racing at the famed California circuit.
“The best way I’d put it is it’s like a Late Model on a road course, but they just have a lot of power," said Brown of the TA2 car. "The experience of speed was definitely noticeable the first time out. But the closest thing to it, I’d say, is a Late Model, based on what I’ve driven before.
“I’m just looking to learn as much as I can in a short amount of time. It’s going to be a steep learning curve, obviously, and it’s going to be a couple of long races. Seventy-five minutes will be the longest race I’ve ever done. So I’m making sure I go into the weekend knowing I’m learning and knowing it’s going to be a tough learning curve.”
He will be driving for TeamSLR as part of a four-car effort for the team, alongside teammates Graham Jacobson, Cole Moore and Tim Carroll.
“I think they’re an unbelievable program," Brown said about TeamSLR. "I’m just trying to soak up what they have to offer. I thought they are super helpful with the driver coaching from Scott (Lagasse Jr.). I’m excited to learn and progress with them and go into more depth into their program.”
The Mission Foods Racing America @ Laguna Seca weekend will kick off at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Friday through Sunday, October 2-4. Tickets are available now at RacingAmericaTickets.com.
-Photo credit: True Speed Communication/TeamSLR
