100.

Three in the Pink for Magnus. Nic Jonsson Hates Us.

Millville, NJ (May 14, 2012)-Following a race that saw a record race pace after only one caution period, Magnus Racing managed an eventful afternoon to come home in third place during yesterday’s Global Barter 250 presented by Susan G. Komen for the Cure- Central and South Jersey at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Beyond bringing home a strong result in the one-time pink liveried car in honor of the Komen foundation, the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche GT3 Cup also delivered a historic 100th GRAND-AM podium for driver Andy Lally, who beyond celebrating with his mother on mother’s day, also meant that Magnus Racing won the bet over Kinetic Motorsports to deliver the historic result.

If Magnus Racing was first to the podium in the Rolex Sports Car Series, Kinetic’s Nic Jonsson would be forced to dance at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in a Kia hamster suit. If Kinetic had been first in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Magnus Racing Team Manager Shannon Davis would have had to do the same.

Luckily for Shannon, it will be Jonsson.

“It’s a great feeling to finally earn 100 podiums,” stated Lally. “To be honest it’s a little bittersweet, as there was a shot for the win, but it just didn’t work out so we had to settle for third. At the end of the day it was good points, and I have to thank all the guys here at Magnus who worked so hard to get us here. I’m a lucky guy, and happy to celebrate my 100th here on mother’s day. I love racing in GRAND-AM. Both the Rolex and Continental Series are so much fun, and so exciting to watch, it's an honor to have had such as great career here.”

With co-driver John Potter starting in 11th, the no. 44 was off to a solid start when the green flag fell. Running under a long green flag, Potter’s main objective was to simply manage the tires, drive clean, and get a strong read on the car in order to adjust for the second half of the race. Not putting a foot wrong, Potter brought the car in at the 50-minute mark, handing the car over to Andy Lally, who was focused on moving the car to the front.

Driving under long green conditions, Lally slowly made work on the field in front of him. Running lap times that matched the race leaders, the long green flag, matched with the rising temperatures, also put Lally in a position to manage his tires as he slowly picked off his competitors.

Pitting at the edge of their fuel window for the final time, Lally would dive in for his final stop in seventh. A quick stop by the Magnus crew would time perfectly with a yellow flag that would come out moments later, putting the Magnus team in a strong strategic position.

With most of the field in front having not pitted, the caution period would force the teams in front to wait until the pits were “open” for GT cars to come through, meaning Lally would catch the back of the field before they’d enter the pits. As a result, when the GT field came in for their last set of stops, Lally would advance to second, and all of a sudden in a strong position to challenge the leading no. 57 Stevenson Camaro.

As the race resumed, no. 57 driver Robin Liddell made a quick jump on the re-start, however made an interesting move as he quickly jumped on the brakes down the front straight, all happening before the start-finish line. By GRAND-AM rule, Lally was not allowed to pass Liddell before start-finish, meaning Lally would also have to jump on the brakes to avoid a penalty, catching him out and allowing two cars to pass in the process.

All of a sudden Lally went from being able to challenge for the lead, to now sitting in fourth and fighting to gain a podium position.

Staying glued to Liddell, who also fell back on the re-start, the last 30 minutes of the race would be a game of patience. As the no. 69 AIM Ferrari of Jeff Segal took a commanding lead, the no. 42 Mazda of Dane Cameron struggled with a fading car to keep Liddell behind him. During the final laps of the race, a heated battle between Cameron and Liddell would cause Cameron to have a brief off-course excursion, allowing Liddell and Lally to advance, meaning Lally was now in a podium position.

From there, Lally would never look back, keeping heat on Liddell but unable to make a final pass, settling for third.

Though there was a brief moment where the no. 44 may have been able to go for the win, third was still a decent result for the team, who now only sit eight points out of the GT championship lead.

“After Homestead we really wanted to make a strong run for points, so we’ll take this,” stated John Potter. “The pink no. 44 was a fun novelty to run this weekend, and I’m glad we were able to deliver a podium result for everyone at Susan G. Komen- Central and South Jersey. Once again we’re all very proud of the work we’ve done, and now we’ll just carry this on to Detroit.”

The fifth round of the Rolex Sports Car Series will take place on the streets of Detroit, with the Chevrolet GRAND-AM 200 showing live at 5:00PM ET on Saturday, June 1st on SPEED.

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Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists the only grassroots organization fighting to cure breast cancer at every stage, from the causes to the cures and the pain and anxiety of every moment in between. The Komen Central and South Jersey affiliate is committed to increasing screening mammography in order to save lives through early breast cancer detection. Twenty-five percent of the affiliate proceeds support innovative national breast cancer research programs while the remaining 75% supports local programs. Serving 13 counties in New Jersey - Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, and Somerset - the affiliate will reach 100,000 women in 2000 with breast cancer education and screening programs.

Magnus Racing will continue to provide updates and coverage throughout the week via their Facebook (facebook.com/RacingMagnus) and Twitter (@MagnusRacing), as well as via www.magnusracing.com. You can also follow Andy Lally on Twitter (@AndyLally).

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 sports car racing can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

Saturday Report: Prettier in Pink?

With the start of the Global Barter 250 less than 14 hours away... Magnus Racing will go to bed with the official pink bumpers on the car, and it is a sight to see. You'll have to come back tomorrow for complete photos.

Speaking of tomorrow, the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche will be starting from the inside of the sixth row, with John Potter having put the car 11th after qualifying.

Running competitive lap times all through practice, the team has a very solid setup for the race.

"We have a very stable, well balanced car for the race tomorrow," stated John Potter. "In qualifying, we took a little risk to make the car a little bit quicker, and it just caught us out. We were decent, but admittedly I was hoping I could go a bit quicker."

With an extremely tight field settled for the race, it's going to be close tomorrow. John Edwards in the no. 57 Stevenson Camaro took a strong pole, but the field currently sees a very even spread between Camaro, Mazda, Porsche, Ferrari, and even Audi.

"It's going to be very close tomorrow, so managing the tires and playing the right strategy will be crucial," stated Potter. "The goal is to stay clean and keep on top of the traffic conditions, and then see how Andy can take it from there."

Still looking for Andy Lally's 100th podium, the famous "Hamster" bet between Magnus Racing and Kinetic Motorsports will continue on to tomorrow's race. Andy Lally and teammate Nic Jonsson were poised for a solid second place in the no. 10 Infinity Audio Kia Forte Koup during today's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race. However a late-race caution would catch Jonsson out on the re-start.

Stuck behind a slower car as the field went green, the errant lapped traffic waved Jonsson by to pass, however this would occur before the start-finish line in violation of GRAND-AM rule, forcing Jonsson in to a stop-go penalty and very critically taking the team out of the top-10. It also really stunk for the points. Lame.

Friday Report: Typical Mid-Season Practice

So what kind of interesting things can we write about after the first day of practice for this weekend's Global Barter 250?

Well, nothing.

That's right, welcome to the mid-season, when no one shows what they 'got. Concentrating on long fuel runs, tire wear, and of course keeping our cards close to our chest, the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche ran flawlessly today, finishing the day in the top-10 (which is PR-speak for 10th).

"We have a few things to work on for qualifying, but we're getting there," stated Andy Lally, who set the team's fastest time of the day at a 1:23.792. "We weren't really focusing on setting lap-times, but really thinking about our race setup and what we think the car is going to do over a long run."

With one more practice session before tomorrow's qualifying, all eyes are focused on small tweaks in the effort to get as far up the grid as possible for the race.

"There's not too many places to pass here, so qualifying will definitely be important," stated John Potter, who will most likely qualify the car tomorrow as well as start Sunday's race. "It's really hard to gauge just where our car is against everyone, but the car has been reliable, and nothing's blown up!"

After two engine failures during practice in successive race weekends, Magnus Racing has at least gotten away cleanly from the first few runs.

Running the special pink no.44 in honor of Susasn G. Komen for the Cure- South and Central Jersey, the team has extra motivation to perform well.

Based on today's run, we can at least say... so far so good. That's all we got.

Pink. It's the New Grey

Millville, NJ (May 10, 2012)- Magnus Racing is pleased to arrive at the track this weekend with a special surprise livery… an all pink no. 44 Porsche in honor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure- Central and South Jersey.

Komen Central and South Jersey, an affiliate of the parent Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, is committed to increasing screening mammography in order to save lives through early breast cancer detection. Twenty-five percent of the affiliate proceeds support innovative national breast cancer research programs while the remaining 75% supports local programs. Serving 13 counties in New Jersey - Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, and Somerset - the affiliate will reach 100,000 women with breast cancer education and screening programs.

With the parent foundation having a long history of receiving “pink” support in racing, the gang at Magnus Racing have all decided to do their part by transforming the traditional grey and white livery to pink and white leading up to this weekend’s event. Ironically, it was at New Jersey Motorsports Park one year ago where the team made the transition from their original green livery to grey.

“We really enjoy taking an active role in the GRAND-AM community and this is a great cause for our team to get behind,” stated Magnus Racing Team Owner John Potter. “Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a great organization with a strong and powerful heritage, and it’s an honor that we can be a part of it. To be honest, the car actually looks pretty awesome in pink, it seems like all of our best ideas show up at this track.”

In addition to the livery, Magnus Racing will also take an active role in the weekend for the foundation. Involving themselves in everything from providing honorary VIP experiences for auction winners, all the way to auctioning off opportunities to sign the car before it goes out to race, Magnus Racing is excited to take a lead role in the weekend.

“Our team has developed a strong relationship with New Jersey Motorsports Park over the years, and I’m happy to continue that bond,” added Potter. “It seems like we run some sort of big event here every year, so it’s nice to keep to our tradition.”

Two years ago, Magnus Racing announced and executed their plans to build “Magnus Racing East” at New Jersey Motorsports Park, where the team unveiled their name and logo on a series of bouncy houses in the track’s kid zone. One year ago, the team ran a free karting event for GRAND-AM crews and drivers, with the winning team (Turner Motorsports) being awarded cash prizes.

For Magnus Racing co-driver Andy Lally, who grew up only two hours away in Long Island, New York, this weekend’s program adds the perfect compliment to his pursuit of his 100th GRAND-AM podium.

“In all my years in racing, I’ve never driven a pink car before,” stated Lally. “It’s actually really cool, and honestly very humbling to get to work with an organization like this. Our team can’t work any harder than we already are, but this definitely provides extra motivation.”

The Central and South Jersey Affiliate is also sponsoring an on-line charity auction for opportunities to wave the green flag or to participate in VIP experiences with several of the leading Rolex Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge teams. Michael Shank Racing, SunTrust Racing, GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing, Magnus Racing and APR Motorsport have donated pit crew experiences for the Rolex Series race, while Stevenson Motorsports, BimmerWorld Racing, Turner Motorsport, Roush Performance and Fall-Line Racing invite fans to join their crew for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race.

To bid on any of the fan experiences for the event, please visit the event page on the Susan G. Komen Central and South Jersey website at: http://www.komencsnj.org/njmp.

Magnus Racing and the entire GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series will race this Sunday at The Global Barter 250 presented by Susan G. Komen for the Cure- Central and South Jersey. Live coverage will be featured on SPEED at 1PM ET.

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Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists the only grassroots organization fighting to cure breast cancer at every stage, from the causes to the cures and the pain and anxiety of every moment in between. The Komen Central and South Jersey affiliate is committed to increasing screening mammography in order to save lives through early breast cancer detection. Twenty-five percent of the affiliate proceeds support innovative national breast cancer research programs while the remaining 75% supports local programs. Serving 13 counties in New Jersey - Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, and Somerset - the affiliate will reach 100,000 women in 2000 with breast cancer education and screening programs.

Magnus Racing will continue to provide updates and coverage throughout the week via their Facebook (facebook.com/RacingMagnus) and Twitter (@MagnusRacing), as well as via www.magnusracing.com. You can also follow Andy Lally on Twitter (@AndyLally).

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 sports car racing can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

Hamster Wars 2: South Jersey Edition.

Salt Lake City, UT (May 7, 2012)- When Magnus Racing and Kinetic Motorsports made a wager to be the first to get Andy Lally to his 100th GRAND-AM series podium, few would have expected the ensuing deluge in Homestead, Florida, to put such a damper on both teams’ plans. With Magnus Racing taking seventh in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and Kinetic Motorsports taking fourth in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, both teams seek to continue the wager in to this weekend’s events at Thunderbolt Raceway in South Jersey’s famed New Jersey Motorsports Park.

With Andy Lally currently holding 99 combined podiums in GRAND-AM competition, the wager is simple. Whoever gets Lally to his 100th podium first, be it the no. 10 Infinity Audio Forte Koup in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge or the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche GT3 Cup in The Rolex Sports Car Series, will force a team member from the opposing team to dance in the signature Kia “hamster suit” at the next series event (in this case, Mid-Ohio).

Having the advantage of running first during Saturday’s B+ Heroes 200 presented by BCKSTGR, Kinetic Motorsports will look to earn their third podium of the season in defense of their current championship points lead. Should Kinetic achieve the goal, Magnus Racing Team Manager Shannon Davis will be forced to adorn the hamster suit, to be seen on the grid at Mid-Ohio.

Should Kinetic fail and Magnus Racing manage to achieve their second podium of the year during the Global Barter 250 on Sunday, Kinetic co-driver Nic Jonsson will fulfill Kinetic’s end of the bargain.

“I had no idea the guys had been planning this at Homestead,” stated Lally. “It would have been nice to wrap this up there, but both races didn’t quite go our way, but we have a great couple race cars headed in to New Jersey. Nic and Shannon are great guys for doing this. Nic is a pretty hairy guy so it won’t be much of a challenge, but Shannon is about 6’3” so I’m not sure how he’s even going to fit in it.”

Lally is no stranger to success at the Millville, New Jersey locale, located just a couple hours south of where he grew up in Long Island, New York. When the track made its professional racing debut with GRAND-AM in 2008, Lally took double victories; winning both with Kinetic in the Continental Series, as well as with a Porsche in the Rolex Series.

“We want to get Andy his 100th podium very badly,” stated Magnus Racing Team Owner John Potter. “However, we’ll settle for getting his 101st. Kinetic is a good group of guys, and we definitely want to make up for ground lost during the strange race everyone had at Homestead.”

The Global Barter 250 will take place this Sunday, May 13, and can be seen live on SPEED at 1PM ET. Saturday’s Continental race will be broadcast on SPEED in two weeks on Saturday, May 26 at 2PM ET.

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Magnus Racing will continue to provide updates and coverage throughout the week via their Facebook (facebook.com/RacingMagnus) and Twitter (@MagnusRacing), as well as via www.magnusracing.com. You can also follow Andy Lally on Twitter (@AndyLally).

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 sports car racing can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.