Another Podium as Blackdog Speed Shop Closes GT4 America Sprint Season

Another Podium as Blackdog Speed Shop Closes GT4 America Sprint Season
  • Cooper takes runner-up Pro finish at Indianapolis; Vogel takes P4 in class 

INDIANAPOLIS – Blackdog Speed Shop closed its championship-winning season in Pirelli GT4 America Sprint competition with a runner-up class finish for Michael Cooper on Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
Cooper, in the No. 10 Blackdog Speed Shop McLaren 570S GT4, ended his 2020 with 11 victories and enough of a points gap to clinch his fourth SRO/World Challenge title with four races to go. Friday, He began second in class but lacked the pace to challenge for the overall lead and win.

In the No. 11 Blackdog Speed Shop McLaren, Erin Vogel put in her second straight trouble-free and competitive drive on her way to a fourth-place GT4 Am finish. Vogel replaced Tony Gaples on Wednesday, and Thursday’s 50-minute race was her first in the Blackdog McLaren and GT4 Sprint competition.

Friday’s finale was routine with no full-course caution periods. Cooper began third overall but moved up to second at the start. He held that position until just before the finish and ended third overall.
 
Vogel ran fifth in GT4 Am for the bulk of the race and withstood tremendous pressure throughout from sixth place. Not only staying cool under pressure, Vogel moved up to fourth on the last lap to match her result from Thursday’s race. 

MICHAEL COOPER, NO. 10 BLACKDOG SPEED SHOP McLAREN 570S GT4: “Obviously I’d like to have won either race, but that doesn’t take away what’s been another great season with Blackdog Speed Shop and McLaren. We took 11 wins in a number of different ways – from pole, driving through the field and back-and-forth battles with our competitors. So there’s very little to complain about when you look at the entirety of the season. Unfortunately we didn’t have the pace to challenge for the win this week. Still, the McLaren was really good, as it has been all season. I can’t say thanks enough to Tony Gaples, Ray Sorenson, Blackdog Speed Shop and McLaren for one of the best seasons of my career.”
 
ERIN VOGEL, NO. 11 BLACKDOG SPEED SHOP McLAREN 570S GT4: “Another tense race today, although it was a little more routine than Thursday. Two fourth-place finishes is more than I could have hoped for when this all came together Wednesday. I appreciate the confidence from Blackdog Speed Shop to give me this opportunity. Congratulations to Michael on a great season and another championship, and for a great experience this week at Indianapolis.”