Petersen/ White Lightning Attacks Sebring 12 Hours With Two Driver Force
Petersen/ White Lightning Attacks Sebring 12 Hours With Two Driver Force SEBRING, Fla., March 15, 2004 - Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing will attempt a feat no other American Le Mans Series (ALMS) team will at 52nd Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 20th. The Michael Petersen-owned team will run the full 12 hour race distance around the 3.7-mile Sebring International Raceway (SIR) with only two drivers. The GT class No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Justice Brothers/ Michelin Porsche 911 GT3 RSR will be driven by David Murry, of Cumming, Ga., and Craig Stanton, of Long Beach, Calif. Both Murry and Stanton have had substantial success in the grueling event and feel confident that their physical and mental preparations will carry them through the event. Last season, Stanton, racing the Petersen/ White Lightning Porsche, came within seconds of taking the GT class win but had to settle for second. In 2000, Murry took the runner-up position in the class and had five-straight Firehawk Series wins at the track prior to that. In anticipation of the 10:30 am (EST) to 10:30 pm event, the team has prepared the car to maximize driver effectiveness and comfort. Included in the features is a "cool-suit" system which flows cold water through a series of capillaries in a vest worn by the drivers to keep their core temperature down. A specialized drink system, developed in part by Stanton, which allows the crew to quickly refill a bottle with cold water through a pressurized hose during pit stops, will also be utilized. The ALMS season-opener will be shown live from start to finish on The SPEED Channel. Mike Petersen, owner: "The challenge and the competition at Sebring is going to be tough, but with some luck and skill we will be in the running at the end and have a chance for a victory. The team has been working very hard for this year's start and we can hardly wait to get going! Without the dedication of Dale, Kent and all of the guys burning the midnight oil, it would have been impossible to get the two cars ready to go. Their dedication and work ethic is like nothing I have ever seen. The decision to run the full year has come at the right time. This season's competition will make it a fight all the way to the end which we all enjoy. I am really excited to see Craig back with us and am looking forward to David joining us as well. I think that they have great chemistry on the track. None of this would have been possible without the sponsors stepping up and helping out and I would like to thank all of them for the support! Most importantly, I would like to thank my Mother who has always been supportive of this obsession. Stay tuned as there is never a dull moment at Petersen Motorsports!" Dale White, team manager: "Craig and David are two experienced drivers that are not only fast but smart. I know they will make good decisions that will both help us win the Sebring race and will help in the championship as well. Craig and David are physically fit and ready for the test of racing for six hours each. When you enter any endurance race, you have so many variables out of your control. With only two drivers, that is one less thing that can go wrong." David Murry, driver: "I am very excited to run Sebring with Petersen/White Lightning. Last year I watched them from behind so I am hopeful we can be a strong contender. Sebring is a special track with great fans. I won five-straight Firehawk races here and hope that good fortune carries over for us. Craig is as good of a co-driver as anyone could ask for. We are on the same wave link and that makes it easy to work together." Craig Stanton, driver: "I'm looking forward to getting back involved with Petersen/ White Lighting. I think we will carry momentum from last season and we will pick up where we left off. With David joining the team and the new Porsche RSR and Michelin tires I see great things coming out of this weekend and this season. It's going to be a very physical weekend and I know David and I are up for it. I'm really excited to be in Sebring with all of its heritage and the thousands of ALMS fans that will be on hand. I can't wait for the race." Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing began operation as an off-road team in the 1980s winning over 50 truck victories, including three-consecutive overall wins at the Baja 1000, and multiple championships. Since beginning sports car racing, the effort has scored victories in the ALMS, the Trans-Am Series, Speed Challenge Series and endurance sports car wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Alex Job Racing, Watkins Glen and at the Rolex 24 of Daytona. In 2003, they won the ALMS GT class of the Road American 500 and finished second in class at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. For more, please visit www.petersenmotorsports.com. ### Digital images and complete team and driver bios available upon request. Editors, please do not publish any contact information other than web sites. Thank you. contact: Tom Moore, Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing, 615-599-7034 (office), 404-229-3703 (cell), tom@darkhorsecom.com