David and Craig Against Goliath In ALMS Finale

David and Craig Against Goliath In ALMS Finale

 

MONTEREY, Calif. October 11, 2004 – In the world of American Le Mans
Series (ALMS) GT racing, Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing
could be viewed as the proverbial underdog, the David of the class. As
the Michael Petersen-owned Porsche team enters its final race of the
2004 season, the No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Michelin
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has dazed the Goliaths of the sport but is yet to
throw that last stone. In the first eight races of the ALMS season, the
Las Vegas-based team has stood on the podium six times including two
second-places and four thirds. That is as many trips to the GT podium as
any privateer team. The four-hour, October 16th season-finale at Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., is the final opportunity for
drivers David Murry (Cumming, Ga.) and Craig Stanton (Long Beach,
Calif.) to move the team up to the top step. 

 

Winning at the Audi Sports Car Championships at Laguna Seca would
continue the team’s streak of four-straight podium finishes in 2004. It
would also continue the team’s run of knocking-off the larger GT teams.
The White Lightning Racing-prepared Porsche was the only team to beat
Alex Job Racing in 2003 and has been one of only two teams to regularly
challenge the class juggernaut this season. Petersen/ White Lightning is
the only single-car GT team to be running at the finish of every ALMS
race this season. As a single-Porsche effort with just 12 fulltime
people at the track— including Petersen, White and the drivers— the team
is challenging two-car teams with more than double the personnel.
Two-car teams are also able to share chassis setup information across
both cars. Further adding to the challenge for the team is the fact that
the two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans GT-winning program has only tested
during the promoter test days on race weekends. Most of the team’s
competition has done extensive testing at each track prior to events. 

 

Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing is currently trying to take
down the bigger guns in the sport with a tight-knit group of dedicated
professionals working as the finest example of a team. With one race and
23 championship points remaining, the No. 31 currently sits second, 14
points behind the Flying Lizard team, in the GT IMSA Cup title chase.
The IMSA Cup is an award given to privateer teams in the ALMS and was
the inspiration for Petersen and Dale White, team manager, when the
longtime duo decided to run the full GT season. A victory at Mazda
Raceway combined with a finish of sixth or worst by the Flying Lizard
team would give Petersen/ White Lightning Racing an outright claim to
the IMSA Cup. A championship in the team category is no longer possible
as the AJR team has clinched that title. However, should Flying Lizard
finish tenth or worse, second is within the team’s grasp. The drivers’
title hopes ended with the third-place at the Petit Le Mans. A win in
Monterey and a finish of tenth or worse by Johannes van Overbeek and
Darren Law will result in a second. If Jörg Bergmeister finishes fourth
or worse, the duo can take third. Regardless of the finishing position
in the day into dark race, the team cannot fall from their current
ranking of second in IMSA Cup and third in team points. However, it is
possible for Murry and Stanton to drop to fifth in the driver point
chase.

 

quotes… 

Mike Petersen, owner/ driver: “We have been very strong in the longer
distance races. Laguna is where I got my start into road racing so this
place is very special to me. The track is just awesome with turn six and
the Corkscrew; and all of this at night this year? Man, I can hardly
wait to get there. I know that Craig and David are just as excited about
this race. We are still in the hunt and the whole team is just so
awesome we all are very eager to get it going. I had hoped that the
championship would not come to the last race of the year but we still
can win the privateer points and will hang it out there to do this. We
are bringing out all the stops to try to cap what has been one hell of a
great season with a victory!”

 

Dale White, team manager: “I really want to win this race. We are doing
well. We've won the IMSA Cup in the last three races in a row and have
been threatening to take a win. But, this team is about winning and we
haven’t done that this year in the ALMS. The team is working very hard
and very well together. We’ll take what we've learned over the last few
races and put it into the finale at Laguna Seca. This is a great track
for Porsche and a great track for us. We’re all eager to get there and
close the season with a win.”

 

David Murry: “I am really looking forward to Laguna. It is our last
opportunity to win a race this year. We have been close in a lot of
races but didn’t bring home the brass ring. Laguna doesn’t have a lot of
grip so setup is going to be key. We are really focused on what we think
the setup will be and hope we hit it better than the other teams. Laguna
Seca really suits the Porsche because of the corners. Putting down the
power is extremely important and that’s what Porsche does best. I hope
we can get that win for the Petersen/ White Lightning team. They deserve
it.”

 

Craig Stanton: “I’m definitely looking forward to the four hour race at
Laguna. This has been a great season and I can’t believe it is already
coming to an end. I would have liked to race at least four more races
with the Petersen/ White Lightning team this year. I think we still have
a couple tricks up our sleeve. I am really excited for the fans. This is
going to be a great race to watch on TV or in person. It will be great
theater to see some of the fastest cars in the world drive around one of
the toughest tracks in the world at night. I was at Laguna at night once
before and I think the only light at the top of the hill is the one in
the bathroom. So, it’ll be pretty dark. Even with the lights they will
put in for TV, it’ll be dark where we’ll be looking. We’ll need a light
mounted on the bottom of the car pointing down at the apex for the
Corkscrew if we hope to see where we’re going.”

 

For more, please visit www.petersenmotorsports.com.  

 

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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, 

615-778-1614 (office), 404-229-3703 (cell), tom@darkhorsecom.com