Records are made to be broken, but some just take a little more time.
When Tony Gaples takes the green flag at Road Atlanta for the first of two Pirelli GT4 America races that weekend, he will add another chapter to one of the longest and most accomplished careers in SRO America. More importantly, he will stand alone at the top as the driver with the most race starts ever in series history.
He currently sits tied with James Sofronas, another legend in the sport, with 272 starts. For Gaples, the milestone is less about numbers and more about a lifetime spent doing what he loves.
“This record means I've been doing this a long time," Gaples said. “It doesn't really feel like it. It means I haven't found anything in life I enjoy more than racing cars. I hope I'll be able to do another 272 starts before I retire from racing.”
As a veteran competitor with Blackdog Racing, his roots date back to the early 2000s before moving into what was then Pirelli World Challenge GT. Gaples and the Blackdog team have seen many eras and different machinery over the years, but while the series has evolved dramatically during his tenure, his love for it has never wavered across his journey through more than two decades of competition.
It all began with racing Corvettes in World Challenge, which eventually transformed into a six-year period campaigning fifth and sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaros in partnership with General Motors before transitioning into two McLaren 570S GT4’s in 2019. In recent years, Blackdog took on a GT America campaign with the Camaro GT4 car before switching to the Nissan Z NISMO GT4 in 2024 in GT4 America. Now, while the team still remains in GT4 America, this time they are back to representing team papaya with the McLaren Artura GT4.
“What has kept me coming back? All the people,” he explained. “Race car drivers are all like-minded and just great individuals. There’s simply nothing better than competing in a race car. We all share the same intense passion for racing and driving. It's a unique niche in life, and I'm so happy to be part of it.”
Few drivers have had a front-row seat to the transformation of North America's premier GT racing championships quite like Gaples. From the early days of the series to the modern SRO America paddock, he has seen nearly every aspect of the championship evolve. One aspect of the past he remembers particularly fondly was the standing-start format.
“We used to have standing starts and 50-minute sprint races,” he recalled. “Those standing starts were really exciting for the fans and the drivers. I miss those dearly.”
They currently share the No. 33 McLaren Artura GT4 in the Pro-Am category, where they consistently bring home podium finishes and trophies from circuits across the country. According to Gaples, their success stems from a shared mentality.
“We're all down-to-earth, hard-working individuals at Blackdog Racing,” he shared. “Michael is cut from the same cloth. He's done more to elevate his game than anyone else I know. Like the rest of us, he's all about the team and focused on overall improvement.”
Gaples holds particularly high praise for Cooper's approach to racing, and the admiration is obvious whenever he speaks about his longtime teammate.
“He’s a smart, egoless man, and one of the best sports car racers I've ever seen,” he praised. “I’m thankful to have him representing Blackdog. Proud to call him my teammate and one of the best friends I could ever have. He made me a better driver following his lead and his dedication to the sport.”
No career spanning hundreds of race starts is built alone, and Gaples is quick to acknowledge the people who have helped shape his path. Among the first names he mentions is Team Manager Ray Sorenson, as well as longtime crew members Marc Engberg and Shawn Warnke.
“Ray brought a significant amount of professionalism to our program at Blackdog,” Gaples stated. “He keeps everything moving forward smoothly and at the highest level. Marc and Shawn have also played a critical role, they have kept me going in a well-prepared race car for over 20 years now. I'm very fortunate to have that.”
Another pivotal figure was Lawson Aschenbach, a four-time Pirelli World Challenge champion, whose influence helped open the door to one of the most successful chapters in Blackdog Racing history with the aforementioned General Motors partnership.
“Lawson was instrumental in getting us a program with General Motors. That was a dream come true,” Gaples explained. “It kicked off an era of championships and race wins.”
The GM connection traces all the way back to a personal decision made nearly three decades ago when Gaples bought a Corvette. What followed were numerous race victories, five Drivers and Teams championships for Blackdog Racing, enduring partnerships and friendships, and now a place for Gaples in the record books.
"Now here I am, 27 years later, still racing cars," Gaples said fondly. "Your choices define you. Thank God I bought that Corvette."
When Gaples arrives at Road Atlanta, the statistics on their own will tell the story of a driver who has competed more often than anyone else in SRO America history. But everyone who has known him, worked with him, or competed alongside him at one point or another will be very well aware of the fact that the record itself is only a reflection of something deeper.
As he prepares to claim the all-time starts record, Gaples remains focused on the same thing that brought him to the series in the first place: the simple joy of racing. For one of SRO America's most enduring competitors, the next race is still every bit as important as the first.
"I'm proud to be having the most starts here after Atlanta," he beamed. "Looking forward to it!"
To see Tony Gaples achieve this monumental milestone, get your #GTRoadAtlanta tickets now and join us at the track from June 12th to 14th, 2026.
