Dyson Wins Trans Am Race on Wet Tires

Chris Dyson won his first Trans Am Series by Pirelli race in 14 months, staying out on wet-weather tires at Circuit of The Americas.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Motorsports

Chris Dyson won the Trans Am Series by Pirelli TA Class race at Circuit of The Americas after staying on wet-weather tires while rivals pitted for slicks during a full-course caution. Matthew Brabham clinched the 2026 TA Class championship over Paul Menard in the same event.

Why it matters

Dyson's win came from a strategy gamble that paid off as the track dried, and Brabham's title secured the TA Class championship for his team. The results decided several 2026 series championships at the Austin venue.

Cars on wet-weather tires ran more than 10 seconds per lap faster than slick-tire cars at the 3.41-mile COTA road course during the caution period. Billy Griffin won the 2026 XGT Class championship by 103 points over Erich Joiner.

The players

Chris Dyson

Chris Dyson is a Trans Am Series by Pirelli competitor whose team won the TA Class race at COTA after an alternate tire strategy.

Matthew Brabham

Matthew Brabham is a racing driver who clinched the 2026 Trans Am Series by Pirelli TA Class championship for himself and Chris Dyson Racing.

Paul Menard

Paul Menard is a veteran NASCAR driver who competed in the Trans Am Series TA Class and finished second to Brabham in the championship standings.

Brent Goforth

Brent Goforth is a Georgia-based racer who was crowned 2026 Trans Am Series by Pirelli GT1 Challenge champion despite stopping on track during the final event.

The details

With 12 laps remaining, Paul Menard and Matthew Brabham pitted for slick tires during a full-course caution, while Dyson stayed out on wet-weather tires as the only TA Class car still on that compound. Brent Goforth stopped on track in Turn 12 with 13 laps left in the 30-lap GT1 main event, while Derrick Carter earned his fourth GT Class victory of 2026.

Dyson's previous Trans Am Series by Pirelli win came 14 months before this race.
The championship-deciding Trans Am event was held Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Circuit of The Americas.

Season Trajectory

The 2026 Trans Am Series by Pirelli season concludes across its TA, GT1, XGT, SGT and GT classes, with Brabham, Goforth, Griffin, Coffey and Carter taking titles. Brabham's TA Class title and Goforth's GT1 crown finalize the season's competitive picture for the multi-class series.

Brabham's TA Class championship and Goforth's GT1 title are now settled for the 2026 season. Fantasy and standings followers can finalize their season tracking based on these confirmed championship results.

The takeaway

Race strategy can override starting position, as Dyson's decision to stay on wet tires as the track dried produced a win. Championship outcomes can hinge on a single race's tire choices and on-track incidents.