DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Zenith Racing Series (ZRS) is introducing a year-end Driver Championship awards program totaling more than $1 million USD across ZR2, ZR3, and ZP2. The program is a direct investment in the drivers who define Zenith through preparation, performance, and sportsmanship, and it reflects the series’ long-term commitment to building endurance racing that rewards excellence.
Zenith was created around a simple idea: endurance racing should be fun, fair, and worth the effort it takes to do it well. The series is built to deliver a distinctive on-track experience, meaningful track time, and a level playing field where results come from execution and racecraft. These awards exist because of that foundation. They are meant to recognize the drivers who perform at the highest level within Zenith’s format, and to reinvest back into the paddock in a way that strengthens the grid, fuels long-term participation, and rewards the standard our champions set. Clear rules and consistent enforcement remain central to that goal, ensuring every title is earned the right way, over a full season.
“These Driver Championship awards are first and foremost about honoring our champions,” said Dakota Dickerson, Zenith Racing Series Chief Operating Officer. “Winning a Zenith title takes preparation, teamwork, and racecraft across a full season, and we want that achievement to be rewarded in a real, meaningful way. Just as important, this program supports the endurance racing community – helping drivers continue their journey, keep doing what they love, and grow in the sport. I’m thankful to our partners and ownership group for making it possible, and we’re fired up for our first official event at Sonoma in March.”
A central part of the program is Zenith’s alignment with the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), the premier professional endurance racing championship in North America. Through this relationship, Zenith champions will be able to apply their awards toward continued racing within Zenith as well as toward eligible sports car racing opportunities such as IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. This initiative expands what’s possible for drivers without prescribing a single path.
“IMSA is proud to align with the Zenith Racing Series as they invest in the endurance racing community and our sport’s future talent,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “As North America’s leading endurance sports car racing championship with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and many other sports car racing platforms, we see tremendous value in programs that reward strong competition and support the driver and team growth ladder at every level.
“Zenith is creating an environment where racers can compete hard, be recognized for their performance, and carry that momentum wherever they choose to race next, including within IMSA’s paddock. We welcome these future champions to IMSA should they choose to use their scholarship funds with us.”
Awards will be presented to the top three overall finishing driver teams in each of Zenith Racing’s classes. These awards include a mix of cash plus entry fees into eligible series. Full eligibility and redemption guidance are published in the official Zenith rules and awards documentation. Drivers planning to run the 2026 season are encouraged to review the rules and register their declared “driver team” by the deadline to ensure eligibility for Driver championship points and year-end awards.