Tyler Gonzalez cut his teeth going door-to-door with one of his toughest rivals in the junior ranks of American sports car racing. From Spec Miata to MX-5 Cup and GR Cup, the competition was fierce, the margins razor-thin, and every race felt like a battle.
Now in 2025, that former rival is in the same garage. Gonzalez has teamed up with Gresham Wagner in the No. 68 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO for RAFA Racing Team, forming one of the strongest Silver-class pairings in the Pirelli GT4 America field.
“Gresham and I have been racing against each other for six years now,” Gonzalez says.
“We both started MX-5 the same year—back when I was only 15. It’s been a rivalry ever since. But I’ve gained a lot of respect for him over the years, on track and off. He’s super fast and a hard racer. It’s cool to finally be teammates.”
That partnership has paid off in a big way. After a strong start at Sonoma, the duo delivered a breakthrough win at Circuit of The Americas—topping the series’ three-hour endurance round despite mid-race setbacks in a double-points event.
“RAFA gave us an amazing car at COTA,” Gonzalez says. “We had a few things to manage during the race, but we got it done. That was a big result for the team—and a huge points day.”
Sebring brought a new test: scorching heat that didn’t play in the Toyota’s favor. Even so, they salvaged a podium finish, keeping their championship campaign on track.
“Some cars handle the heat better than others,” Gonzalez explains. “But you’ve got to turn those off-days into something. That’s how you stay in the championship fight.”
Consistency has been a theme of their 2025 campaign. Gonzalez knows that in the ultra-competitive Silver class—mixed in with traffic from other categories—clean, smart execution matters just as much as outright speed.
“In Silver, you might be fourth in class, but there are five Pro-Am cars between you and the guy you actually need to beat,” he says. “You’ve got to be smart, choose your battles, and maximize every weekend.”
Gonzalez has taken well to the GT4 platform, having previously raced in momentum-based spec classes like GR Cup, MX-5 Cup, and Spec Miata.
“You go from a car with almost no power to something with downforce, real brakes, traction control—a lot more to manage,” he says. “Having time in GT4, TCR and Trans Am before this, gave me a good idea of what to expect . GT4 is really the first big step on the endurance racing ladder.”
Toyota’s continued support has also opened new doors, and Gonzalez is already thinking beyond GT4.
“I want to keep growing in sports cars, but I’d love to try new things too,” he says. “Toyota has a footprint in NASCAR, and I’d love to jump in as a road course ringer or get a feel for something different.”
For now, the focus is squarely on the second half of the GT4 America season—and one special milestone.
“I turn 21 at VIR,” Gonzalez says, smiling. “No better birthday present than standing on the top step!.”
And if he makes it to the top step?
“Hopefully they give me the real champagne,” he laughs. “Apple cider doesn’t spray the same.”
Gonzalez’s steady rise is no accident. He’s been at this for nearly 15 years. It all began in his home state of Florida, where he first fell in love with racing on two wheels—through motocross and BMX—before jumping into karting at age seven.
“Once I started karting, that was it,” he says. “By the time I was 8, I was racking up national titles.. By 12, I was competing for world championships. We just kept going.”
The commitment extended beyond the track.
“My dad’s kind of acted as my manager from the start, and my family made a lot of sacrifices,” Gonzalez says. “We were racing 40-plus weekends a year. My mom, dad, sister—we gave up a lot of normal things to chase this. But I’m grateful for all of it.”
That work ethic hasn’t slowed down. Between GT4 and other opportunities, Gonzalez expects to be at the track nearly 40 weekends this year—and he’s determined to keep building toward the future.
“We’ve got a great car, a great crew, and a great teammate,” he says. “Now it’s about staying sharp, grabbing points every weekend, and seeing where we end up.”
And if the season keeps trending upward, Tyler Gonzalez won’t just be celebrating his 21st birthday at VIR—he could be celebrating a championship by year’s end.
