Four-For-Four: Aschenbach Extends Winning Streak for Blackdog Speed Shop

Sweep at CTMP in World Challenge GTS as Gaples fifth in GTSA

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada (May 20, 2018) – Blackdog Speed Shop’s Lawson Aschenbach tightened his grip on a potential sixth championship in Pirelli World Challenge on Sunday with a second straight GTS victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport in his Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R.

The defending class champion won for the fourth time in as many races to open the GTS Sprint season in the No. 1 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R. He led every lap for the second straight day after starting from pole position for the 50-minute sprint.

The win also was the 53rd for the Camaro brand, tied for first all-time in World Challenge history. Blackdog Speed Shop also won in GTS for the 25th time to rank first among class entrants.

Teammate Tony Gaples was part of another fight for the GTSA podium in the No. 11 Blackdog Speed Shop Camaro GT4.R and finished fifth in class but less than two seconds from another podium.

Unlike Saturday’s opening GTS race, Aschenbach had to fight the entire way Sunday. He briefly lost the lead on the opening lap but regained it before he and Ian James reached the start-finish line. The two were rarely separated by more than a half-second over the final 25 minutes, which included a full-course caution period with 22 minutes left.

The race began again with 10 minutes left with Aschenbach narrowly holding off his challenger after each lap. His winning margin was just 0.145 seconds for his fifth career World Challenge victory at CTMP.

Gaples began 12th overall and fifth in GTSA, but he gained a spot in the category after seven laps. Another fierce battle in the class ensued – like Saturday – but a bobble by a competitor ahead of him cost Gaples time and two positions as the race approached halfway.

Undeterred, Gaples pressed the challenge in his Camaro for the balance of the race. Although he just missed this third podium of the season, Sunday’s efforts were enough to move him into second place in the GTSA provisional points standings heading to next weekend’s GTS SprintX event at Lime Rock Park.

Article by Blackdog Racing