July 18, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – It will be a new look Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup that rolls off the transporter in Milleville, New Jersey for the American Red Cross 250 at New Jersey Motorsports Park next weekend.
For the first time, the team will do away with its traditional white and green graphics for grayscale for the weekend. Team owner John Potter explained the decision.
“We need a turnaround, and maybe the green isn’t working out for us,” said Potter. When I started Magnus Racing, I selected green because no one else had a green car. Only later did I find out that green is apparently bad luck - so we are testing that theory this weekend. Plus, on the rare occasions I watch IndyCar and NASCAR races, cars in grayscale graphics tend to finish in second. I would really like another podium finish this year since our guys have worked so hard all season and we are in the hunt for the GT class championship.”
John Potter (l) and Craig Stanton
At last year’s GRAND-AM race at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Potter and Stanton enjoyed a strong run to finish sixth after the cool suit and helmet blower failed during Stanton’s stint at the wheel of the Magnus Racing Porsche. In the high heat and humidity of New Jersey, the failures left the Fittest Man in Motorsports baking in the 145 degree cockpit of the Magnus Racing Porsche for almost two hours. Despite a pit-lane speed penalty, Stanton moved from ninth to sixth over the final hour with the aid of a lightning-quick pitstop by the Magnus Racing crew in the final hour.
The high heat this weekend, as well as fuel mileage strategy that has become a key factor in GT class as of late, will no doubt be factors in the American Red Cross 250 this weekend.
“I’m excited for the new look of our Porsche,” said Stanton. “We’ve been just a little bit off our game and maybe this helps us get rid of our bad luck and get back to the front. If it means the prototypes and GT cars can’t see us that would be great too, since New Jersey tends to have very physical races and lots of contact. It’s going to be hot again but bring it on – I’m ready.”
Potter and Stanton currently sit fifth (or eighth) in the Rolex Sports Car Series GT class standings at 200 points, 22 points behind leaders (and Magnus Racing alumni) Andrew Davis and Leh Keen. Potter is also third in the Bob Akin Award standings for Pro-Am drivers in the GT class.
The American Red Cross 250 at New Jersey Motorsports Park will be shown live on SPEED Channel at 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, July 24. Fans of Magnus Racing can follow the team throughout the weekend on Facebook (facebook.com/magnusracing) and twitter (@magnusracing).
More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.