It wasn’t exactly a summer break but Blackdog Racing is back at the track this weekend and resuming its championship challenge in Pirelli GT4 America with the No. 9 Nissan Z NISMO GT4.
Fast and flowing Virginia International Raceway is the site of Blackdog’s resumption in the series with Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples teaming together for the pair of 60-minute races. In just its first year with the Nissan GT4 entry, Blackdog Racing has made an impact with a Pro-Am race win at Sebring for Gaples and Max Root plus a pole-position run by Cooper in the series’ most recent round at Circuit of The Americas.
Through five races this year, Gaples sits fourth in the Pro-Am standings and is only nine points out of third place.
Historically, Blackdog Racing has felt at home at the friendly confines of Virginia International Raceway. Cooper is a four-time winner at VIR in SRO America competition – once for Blackdog Racing in 2019 and twice more in 2020 plus a GT World Challenge Pro-Am win in 2021.
Gaples has traditionally had good luck at VIR as well. He was third in GT America’s GT4 class a year ago at the circuit – a repeat of his performance would go a long way in solidifying his championship standings – and his first podium in racing came at VIR in 2001.
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. ET on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s second race at 10:55 a.m. ET. 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: “VIR has been a good track to myself and Blackdog. We’ve a couple of races there. The track has a bit of everything – elevation change, fast corners, slow corners and it has a good rhythm and flow to it. I love these types of tracks. I don’t think there’s one on our calendar that I don’t like. I prefer the tracks that challenge you as a driver to be precise, and VIR is one of those. I’m looking forward to it.”
TONY GAPLES, NO. 9 BLACKDOG RACING NISSAN Z NISMO GT4: “We’re diving back into the schedule at a tough track. VIR is a lot of fun but it also is very demanding. Pretty much every type of corner exists around the lap so it’s important to get the car setup right as quickly as possible in testing and practice. I love racing at VIR and have a lot of good memories. It would be nice to add some more this weekend with Michael in the Nissan.”
RAY SORENSON, TEAM MANAGER, BLACKDOG RACING: "It's been a few weeks since COTA, so we're ready to get the Nissan Z GT4 NISMO back on the track. For us, I feel like we are going to a good one. VIR is much different than anywhere we have run the car so far. We have a good understanding and history of the circuit, which we hope will help. The Pro-Am class remains as tough and competitive as we thought it would be so any area where we can have an advantage is huge.”