The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Western Championship is set to launch its 2025 season at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, marking the series' first-ever visit to this 2.64-mile track near Bakersfield, California. Twenty-three competitors will compete on the CW14 course configuration.

Key Highlights:

• New TA Cup class debuts with six entries, featuring 600hp spec tube-frame vehicles with silhouette bodies
• Ken Thwaits returns after two years, competing in TA Cup
• Former champions Brody Goble (2023) and Michael LaPaglia (2024) return to defend their titles
• Brad McAllister and Caleb Shrader bring recent Buttonwillow success experience
• Naake Motorsports fields four cars across TA2 and TA Cup classes

Notable Entries and Debuts:

• Six new competitors join the series, including Norwegian driver Stein Frederic Akre
• Local favorite Derek Thorn from Bakersfield debuts in TA Cup
• 11 California-based drivers among the competitors
• National competitors Barry Boes and Mia Lovell join the Western Championship

Classes and Competition:

• TA Cup: New spec class with six entries
• CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series: Features returning champions and new talent
• XGT: Welcomes new competitor JD Koos in Porsche GT3 Cup
• SGT: Simon Asselin joins in Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup

The event begins a three-race California streak for the Western Championship, featuring a diverse field of experienced racers and newcomers across multiple classes.

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