Cooper can set SRO America win record in team’s home race
Blackdog Racing will return from its two-month summer break at its home track and riding a two-race win streak as teams in Pirelli GT4 America head to Road America for a pair of one-hour races.
Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples are aiming to continue their recent run of four straight Pro-Am class podiums in the No. 33 Blackdog Performance Cars McLaren Artura GT4. The pairing swept both rounds in June at Road Atlanta – including an overall win – and were third in both races at Sebring in May.
Both Road Atlanta wins had additional significant meaning for the team and its drivers. Gaples set an SRO America record with his 273rd and 274th career starts, and Cooper tied Peter Cunningham for career victories with 43. The team recorded its 47th and 48th GT4/GTS wins in its history – the most of any entrant in the class.
Those results moved Cooper and Gaples into third position in the Pro-Am Drivers Championship and Blackdog Racing third in the Teams standings heading into the wide-open spaces of historic Road America.
It’s a place where Blackdog Racing feels, well… at home. Cooper won four times in five races during the 2019 and 2020 seasons in Blackdog McLaren GT4 machinery. In addition, Gaples set the fastest race lap and claimed pole position in GT America’s GT4 class in 2023.
A year ago the pairing finished second in Pro-Am after starting fourth in the team’s first race at the track with the Artura GT4.
All races in Pirelli GT4 America from Road America will stream live on SRO Motorsports’ GT World YouTube channel.
MICHAEL COOPER, NO. 33 BLACKDOG CARS McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “I’m looking forward to all the races in the second half. We got off to a little bit of a slow start, not finishing two of the first three races. But the races that we have finished in the first part of the season have generally been very strong, so I think that bodes well for the rest of the year. The whole Blackdog Racing team and Tony and I have really outperformed our equipment, and I think we can still fight for wins in the class.”
TONY GAPLES , NO. 33 BLACKDOG CARS McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “Coming to Road America is always special. Coming off a big weekend at Road Atlanta, we have a lot of momentum. I don’t think we can get back in the championship but we can keep on winning races. Getting one of those this weekend will be important for Michael to move into first by himself in career wins. He’s the best teammate I could have and deserves all of the success that he’s earned.”
About Blackdog Racing
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About Blackdog Cars
At Blackdog Cars, luxury and performance converge in an exclusive collection of high-end vehicles, each designed to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. Our curated inventory is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship and innovation, while our GT4 America McLaren Artura race team subtly underscores our passion for precision engineering on the track. Discover the ultimate blend of sophistication and speed at www.blackdogcars.com.