Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta will host a history-making event in just a few weeks, as the Collegiate Racing Series (CRS) kicks off its inaugural season championship with its first-ever event from July 31 through August 2.
The Collegiate Racing Series, or CRS, was founded by Clemson University collegiate racer Jack Hobbs, who created the series to blend collegiate athletics with motorsports competition. The series, which is supported by grassroots sportscar series, FARA, will see backing from the established sanctioning body through this new series.
The inaugural season will feature three event weekends and nine races across the calendar. Joining Road Atlanta on the schedule are NCM Motorsports Park (September 4-6) and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway (December 18-20).
Each weekend will consist of three races: two sprint races and one endurance event. The championship is divided into two classes. The A Series features Spec ND Mazda MX-5s, similar to those used in IMSA’s Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, while the B Series serves as an open division.
Although both classes will compete on track simultaneously, only A Series competitors will be eligible to earn season-long driver and team championship points.
Each college or university is permitted one entry, with the winning team earning 25 points, while 10th place receives one championship point.
While the B Series will not award a season championship, drivers and teams will still participate in an official podium ceremony recognizing the top three finishers in each event.
Among the colleges and universities confirmed to compete are Clemson, Purdue, Tulane, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), Florida International (FIU), Washington, Georgia, and Embry-Riddle (FL), which is located near Daytona International Speedway.
“When the Collegiate Racing Series (CRS) officially launched on February 20, 2025, the response exceeded everyone’s expectations,” the series states. “More than 1,500 students, faculty members, and industry professionals joined the inaugural interest call, confirming what the founders had long believed: there was tremendous demand for a true collegiate motorsports championship.”
“Today, the Collegiate Racing Series has grown into a nationwide movement, with participation spanning more than 70 universities across the country.”
“Through competition, engineering projects, team operations, leadership development, and industry engagement, students are gaining real-world experience that extends far beyond the racetrack.Now, students from universities across the nation are preparing to compete wheel-to-wheel in the inaugural Collegiate Racing Series season, battling for the first-ever National Championship in collegiate motorsports history on August 1-2 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.”
“What began as a vision in a college dining hall has evolved into a nationwide movement that is redefining experiential education, preparing students for careers in the motorsports industry and beyond, and ushering in a new era of collegiate competition.”
