Trans Am’s new TA2 technical director brings more than three decades of racing and racing-industry experience to the role. When he’s away from his day job, he can often still be found at race events.

The cliché about “gasoline in his blood” applies perfectly to Doug Nagy, the new technical director for the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series. Just ask his wife. She loves the sport, too, and the couple spent part of their honeymoon competing in the famed Baja 1000.
Nagy comes to Trans Am with a “get it done” spirit proven across a gamut of racing industry roles, plus experience as an FIA-licensed technical inspector, technical director for the American Rally Association, and the chief of tech for King of the Hammers. In his long career, Nagy previously held positions at Saleen, Bell Motorsports, and Mosler Automotive. He replaced Ricky Brooks as TA2 tech director.
“I was fortunate to grow up in the Phoenix area, where there were motorsports events happening almost six days and nights a week,” Nagy recalled about his racing background. “We had two or three drag strips, three oval tracks, three road courses, mud bogs, motorcycles, off-road racing, autocross, and probably some others I can’t remember.”
Nagy was either in the cockpit, wrenching, or watching—or all three. “My friends and I would go buy a cheap car, fix it up, and use it wherever we could to race,” he said. “We weren’t always competitive, but we learned a lot about setup and preparation stumbling through our different adventures.”
The TA2, one of five classes offered by The Trans Am Company LLC, revived the spirit of the original Trans Am series from the 1960s and 1970s, when America’s popular pony cars fought super-tight battles on premier road courses. Today’s version uses a purpose-built racing platform with the appropriate manufacturer engines and the instantly recognizable silhouettes of the modern Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Challenger. Races see car counts in the 40s to 50s. Notably, the TA2 cars are engineered to last an entire season and keep costs under control.

PRI: Was motorsports a career choice from long ago?
Nagy: I had my first paid job in racing when I was 19 as a part-time crew member on a drag racing team. Since then, I have always had work in the racing industry, even if I had a “day job.” I was using all my available vacation time to attend races. Racing has been my full-time job for close to 30 years. The challenges of competition have always been fascinating to me, and I still enjoy watching teams work to find new ways to improve their performance.
PRI: How long have you been an FIA-licensed technical inspector?
Nagy: Just a couple of years. I added that after I took a position with the American Rally Association.
PRI: You’ve worked on the builder/supplier side with Saleen, Bell Motorsports, and Mosler Automotive. How would you say that experience helps you in your new role with Trans Am?
Nagy: As tech director, I deal with teams, suppliers, and manufacturers. Having worked on the builder/manufacturer side has given me a different perspective on what manufacturers and suppliers need from a series to be viable. If the series is going to be sustainable, the suppliers and manufacturers need to see a return on their investment, whether it is promotional or monetary or a bit of both.
PRI: Do you foresee making any changes in how this role operates?
Nagy: I started with Trans Am after the first couple of events had already taken place. I wanted to spend the first season getting to know the teams and series partners. I didn’t need to come in and make wholesale changes right away, as the series had a strong entry and full fields. I’ve had lots of good conversations with the teams on how to bring us up to the next level together and make TA2 a successful series for everyone involved.
PRI: Are there any goals or plans for the 2025 season that you could share?
Nagy: For 2025, my main goals are to continue building on what I have started in 2024, and to start looking to the future, three to five years down the road, such as what changes we might need to remain a cost-effective and competitive option for teams. With a longer-term vision, teams can make plans and invest in Trans Am for the extended future. We need to manage cost and supply issues for the long term so we aren’t caught by surprise.
PRI: Is there someone you would call out as being a major influence on you in your career?
Nagy: I have learned something from almost every team I have been involved with. Some teams were excellent examples of how to be a success, and some were opportunities to learn from mistakes. I still learn new things almost every time I go to the track.
PRI: Did this new role require a relocation?
Nagy: I didn’t have to relocate, but I had to add more travel to my calendar. As more of the races are in the Midwest and East, it makes for longer commutes some days!

DOUG NAGY

TITLE: Technical Director
ORGANIZATION: CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series
HOMETOWN: Orange County, California
FAST FACT:  “I spend more of my off-time than I should at races, whether it’s running off-road races in Mexico or spectating at the local short track. My wife is involved in racing, as well, so we can often spend time at events together. We spent a part of our honeymoon running the Baja 1000 over 20 years ago.”