Petersen/ White Lightning Takes Sebring Podium After Exciting Battle

 
SEBRING, Fla., March 20, 2004 - Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning
Racing, who qualified the No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/
Justice Brothers Porsche 911 GT3 RS fifth in GT class, finished third in
class in today's 52nd Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The Las
Vegas-based race team owned by Michael Petersen, fought a last hour
battle with fellow Porsche team, Flying Lizard, to take its first podium
finish of 2004. The team, headed by Dale White and Kent Moore, also won
the first IMSA Cup award of 2004 as the highest finishing privateer team
having taken the third step of the podium behind Alex Job Racing who has
its drivers supplied by Porsche and therefore is categorized as a
factory effort. David Murry, of Cumming, Ga., was able to hold his
position in the closing laps despite running low on fuel and fighting
fading brakes after taking the final driving stint from co-driver Craig
Stanton, of Long Beach, Calif. Making the feat even more amazing is
that, late last night, a short in the wiring harness of the team's
Porsche 911 GT3 RS forced a complete replacement of the harness- which
is every electric wire inside the car- as well as finish the planned
engine change and gearbox rebuild. The team arrived at the track on
Friday morning at 7 am and has not slept or left the Sebring
International Raceway since. Murry and Stanton were the only driving
team to compete with only two drivers and the highest finishing Porsche
RS chassis in the field. 
 
Mike Petersen, owner: "That was the hardest finishing third place we've
ever had in our career. Towards the end we had some trouble with the
brakes and had to conserve fuel. The end was definitely some of the most
nerve-wracking two hours of any race we have ever done. I think it was
the right decision to go with two drivers. It wasn't an advantage and it
wasn't a disadvantage. The team did an awesome job and Craig and David
are a great asset to this race team."
 
Dale White, team manager: "The plan worked-out. It took twelve hours but
it worked out. I just wish it had come together about an hour earlier so
it wouldn't have been such a nail-bitter but it came together. We went
conservative on our setup, on our brakes and on our motor and it worked.
The whole team really came together on this one and I am so proud of how
well everyone performed."
 
David Murry, driver: "I'm very appreciative of Mike and Dale for having
me as a part of their team. I'm appreciative of the crew that stayed-up
all night working on this car for Craig and me to drive today. That's
what's on your mind when you're driving because you know that's what the
crew guys did. I'm looking forward to lots of great success with the
Petersen/ White Lightning team."
 
Craig Stanton, driver: "It was a great day. This is all about the team.
The guys all had to pull together with all the adversity this weekend
and it really shows the strength of this Petersen/ White Lightning team.
The Porsche worked flawless all day. We asked a lot out of the car and
the Michelin tires today and they all came through. Mike and Dale put
together a top-notch team and we're going to carry a lot of momentum on
through the end of the season."
  
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.