Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing formally announced its 2004 plans for participation in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) today. For only the second time in theteam's storied ALMS career, the Michael Petersen-owned operation willfield the No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Justice BrothersPorsche in each of the nine series' events.

The 2003 Road America 500 GT class winning team will challenge for the title with the all-American driver line-up of David Murry, of Cumming, Ga., and Craig Stanton, of Long Beach, Calif. To complete what is expected to be a serious contender to the Alex Job Racing dominance of recent seasons, the team will field Porsche's new 2004 911 GT3 RSR riding on Michelin tires. Dale White returns as team manager, Harry Haggard as team engineer and Kent Moore will again be lead technician for the Las Vegas-based race team.

Stanton, whose spectacular run at the start of the '03 RoadAmerica-round set the team for its first ALMS victory, returns toPetersen/White Lightning for a second year. Murry, also an ALMS GT classwinner, joins the team after several years racing Porsches for thefinest GT teams in the world. Petersen/ White Lightning will open theseason with the 52nd Annual Mobil1 12 Hours of Sebring (InternationalRaceway) on March 20.

Michael Petersen, car owner: "2004 is going to be exciting for PetersenMotorsports as we have added a few new sponsors and a new driver to theteam. Even though the competition should be very tough, we are all veryexcited about Craig and David. We are confident that they will give ourcompetition a very hard time. This is the second year that I have feltthat it was time to go for the championship. All the cards have falleninto the right place and 2004 should be a very good year for PetersenMotorsports/ White Lightning Racing. We are set to be a big challenge toanyone in GT. The Westward Ho Porsche will be ready to give-out someFerrari ass-kicking! Most importantly, we will put on a good show andhave one hell of a good season."

Dale White: "Craig and David are both experienced, smart drivers thatwork well together. Their consistency will give us the best chance for achampionship, and to win races, of any pairing we could ask to put inthe Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing Porsche."

David Murry: "I am honored and elated to drive with PetersenMotorsports/ White Lightning Racing in their new 2004 Porsche GT3 RSR.They have shown what a great team they are by their finishes. They werea part of winning Le Mans last year and finished right behind thefactory team in points without even competing in the full schedule. Thisyear they are committed to the entire season and the title. I am alsothrilled to have one of the best co-drivers anyone could ask for, CraigStanton. He is not only quick but great with car setup and a greatfriend. We have been teammates before and it was a great partnership.Somebody pinch me!"

Craig Stanton: "I'm really thrilled about running with Petersen/ WhiteLightning again. Most of the key players are going to be back from lastyear. The team has committed to run a full season which has put us inserious contention for the championship. I'm really excited about beingable run with David Murry for the full season. David and I have beenfriends for a long time and we were teammates back in '99. I am verypleased and excited about being teammates with him again in 2004. He isa great competitor and a hard charger and he fits right in with the restof the team. Everyone here is very professional, very focused and hasmany resources in their bag of tricks. Dale and Mike have a great visionfor this year and I am really, really excited about being a part of it."

Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing began operation as anoff-road team in the 1980s winning over 50 truck victories, includingthree-consecutive overall wins at the Baja 1000, and multiplechampionships. Since beginning sports car racing, the effort has scoredvictories in the ALMS, the Trans-Am Series, Speed Challenge Series andendurance sports car wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Alex JobRacing, Watkins Glen and at the Rolex 24 of Daytona.