Blackdog Racing update

Blackdog Battles Back to GT4 America Podium

Cooper, Gaples race No. 33 McLaren from ninth to third after three hours at COTA

AUSTIN (April 26, 2025) – Up-and-down. Dizzying. Unpredictable… and finally, celebratory.

Yep, that was the day for Blackdog Racing at the end of a three-hour enduro for Pirelli GT4 America at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday. Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples raced their way twice from near the bottom of the Pro-Am class to third at the end of a frantic race in the No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren Artura GT4.

It’s the second podium in three 2025 races for the Cooper/Gaples combination. The pairing won the season-opener at Sonoma Raceway a month ago and unofficially sits second in the Pro-Am Drivers Championship. 

Cooper qualified second in class earlier in the day, and Gaples drove a solid opening half-hour stint and held position before the first of three full-course yellows. An extra pit stop plus a pitlane speed penalty meant Cooper dropped to ninth in class near the 45-minute mark.

The five-time SRO/World Challenge champion drove his way back up to third place before handing the McLaren back over to Gaples for his final stint. He rejoined eighth in class but was back up to fourth with 45 minutes left before Cooper got back in the McLaren for the final push.

A full-course yellow nearly 15 minutes later brought Cooper back to the Pro-Am pack in eighth place. He quickly moved up to fifth in class shortly after the race resumed with 10 minutes left and took advantage of mistakes by two cars in front of him starting the last lap to snatch and then drive the McLaren home and to the podium.

Blackdog Racing’s next event in Pirelli GT4 America is May 16-18 at Sebring International