Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing Only Looking For Wins

LAS VEGAS, September 24, 2003 � Never suggest that Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing is only in it for the points. The Las Vegas-based race team of Michael Petersen and Dale White sits at the top of the privateer points standings in class and has not finished outside of the top-five in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT class in 2003. With the championship on the line many teams would play it safe in the two remaining events. However, the No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/MMPIE/ PAWS/ XtraJet/Justice Brothers Porsche 911 GT3 RS is only looking for the checkered flag and is not going to take a top-five when they could fight for a win. Including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in which Petersen/White Lightning won in conjunction with Alex Job Racing (AJR), the Michelin-tired team has two class wins (Le Mans and Road America), a second (the 12 Hours of Sebring) a third (the most recent round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) and a fifth (Infineon Raceway) this season. Despite entering three less events than their competition, the success has placed the driving pair of Johnny Mowlem, of Warfield England, and Craig Stanton, of Long Beach, Calif., third in driving-team points behind the two AJR factory team Porsches. Arriving for this weekend's penultimate round of the ALMS season in downtown Miami for the Grand Prix Americas, Petersen/White Lightning's 80% podium-finish success rate is among the best in professional motorsports. The team is committed to upping that percentage in the final two events of the season in Miami and the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on October 18th. In doing so, the team is confident the victories will ensure the title. “We come to every race planning to win,” offered White about the team's commitment to success. “We can deal with second-place, third hurts and anything outside of the top-five makes us wonder why we even left Las Vegas. The competition in the ALMS is stiff but we come to win, not to finish second. So, if we don't win, we are all a little disappointed and come back with that much more commitment to take first place. Winning is our goal. You won't see this team stroking for points.”“I am very pleased with the way this season has gone,” remarked two-time ALMS winner Mowlem. “I'm especially happy for Mike and Dale and the whole crew, because they've all worked so hard, and they have thoroughly earned and deserve this success we're now having. This team is very serious about winning. With a track like Miami it is tough to say how you will finish because there is so much out of your control. Qualifying will be important because on any street circuit passing is always at a premium. Then you have to stay out of trouble on the track and have great pit stops. The Petersen/White Lightning crew is one of the best in the pit lane on stops this season and that leaves it to Craig and me. We know what we need to do.”The Grand Prix Americas will be run on Saturday, September 27th with live television coverage on SPEED at 4 pm (EDT). Practice and qualifying is scheduled for Friday.Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing began operation in the late 1980s competing in off-road endurance events. The duo of Petersen and White joined to win over 50 off-road truck victories including three-consecutive overall wins at the Baja 1000 and Baja 500 and four SCORE, SNORE and SODA championships. Since introducing the team to 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, Watkins Glen and at the Rolex 24 of Daytona. For more, please visit www.PetersenMotorsports.com. ###