Blackdog Speed Shop is turning its attention to Monday’s pair of races in the Pirelli World Challenge GTS category with Saturday’s qualifying session in the books. The two-car team will look to march its way forward at Lime Rock Park in the third SprintX doubleheader of the season.
Andy Pilgrim and Tony Gaples qualified both of the team’s Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro GT4.Rs in Saturday’s two sessions of time trials. Pilgrim, who will team with Lawson Aschenbach, led the team’s effort in 19th place with a lap of 55.349 (95.87 mph) in the No. 1 Blackdog Speed Shop Camaro GT4.R.
Gaples was only a half-second off his teammate in the No. 11 Blackdog Speed Shop Camaro that he will share with Michael Cooper.
As always, the team’s aim is to return to the GTS SprintX podium, as it has three times already this year. Given the chaos that Lime Rock can produce with traffic and different strategy plays, that goal is well within reach.
Monday’s Race 1 is at 9:55 a.m. ET and Race 2 at 2:25 p.m. Live race coverage will be available at World-ChallengeTV.com as well as SiriusXM Channel 383.
ANDY PILGRIM, NO. 1 BLACKDOG SPEED SHOP CHEVROLET CAMARO GT4.R: “Monday’s start will be interesting given our starting position. The pace hasn’t been there for us this week, which wasn’t totally unexpected. That doesn’t lessen the disappointment, but we have our heads up. A lot can happen in a race around Lime Rock given the traffic and driver change. Let’s see what happens once the race starts.”
TONY GAPLES, NO. 11 BLACKDOG SPEED SHOP CHEVROLET CAMARO GT4.R: “We qualified 25th today, which obviously isn’t where we want to be. It should open up a lot of opportunities for the first race Monday where we’ll have a chance to move forward. We’ll look for some good strategy and maybe some yellows to help us out… also good pit stops like we’ve had throughout the season. This may not be where we want to be today, but you never know where we will end up Monday.”
