Blackdog Racing and its Nissan Z NISMO GT4 are ready for the high speeds and long straights of its home track – Road America – as the team readies to return to racing in Pirelli GT4 America.
Tony Gaples and Michael Cooper will team in the Blackdog Racing No. 9 Nissan as part of a 14-car field in the series’ Pro-Am category. A total of 27 GT4 cars will contest the pair of one-hour races around the historic 4.048-mile, 14-turn road course.
The goal is to add a second Pro-Am victory to the one that Blackdog Racing scored earlier this year at Sebring. That would mean a lot in terms of the class championship, which sees four teams within 21 points in the fight for third in the Pro-Am standings.
With 150 points still available this year, Blackdog Racing stands fifth in points and 40 out of second place.
The team’s recent history at Road America has been superb. Cooper won four times in five races during the 2019 and 2020 seasons in Blackdog GT4 machinery. Last year, Gaples set the fastest race lap and claimed pole position in GT America’s GT4 class.
Blackdog Racing and the No. 9 Nissan Z NISMO GT4 will race in the first of two Pirelli GT4 America races at VIR at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s second race at 10:55 a.m. CT. Live coverage of both races plus timing & scoring will be available at gt4-america.com and SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.
MICHAEL COOPER, NO. 9 BLACKDOG RACING NISSAN Z NISMO GT4: “It’s always good to be at Road America with Blackdog Racing. I’ve had a lot of success there personally with the team and that gives us confidence. Then there’s a strong fan turnout that supports us every year. It doesn’t matter what car or class we are in. We’re glad to have the crowd behind us and plan to put on a good show for them.”
TONY GAPLES, NO. 9 BLACKDOG RACING NISSAN Z NISMO GT4: “We are all feeling hopeful going to our home race at Road America. It’s a chance for a lot of the families and friends of our team members to see us race in person. It’s a good feeling to have the level of support with the crowds that come out to support us at Elkhart Lake. We will do our best to give them a lot of things to cheer about Saturday and Sunday. Nothing would be better than getting another win this year at a place we know so well.”
RAY SORENSON, TEAM MANAGER, BLACKDOG RACING: "There’s a lot of excitement within the team going to Road America. It’s a track where we have a lot of experience and a successful history. On paper, we should be able to keep our Nissan toward the front as this is the kind of track that suits this car. But we’ve seen throughout this year how tough the racing is in this class. We’ll be ready to fight hard for our home-track fans.”