Powered by Chicken ‘n Waffles, Magnus Racing Finishes Third in Long Beach

April 16, 2011 (Long Beach, CA) – Living near the Grand Prix Circuit in Long Beach, Craig Stanton was more than a little motivated about competing in this weekend’s American Le Mans Series race at the world famous street circuit. His no. 77 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, which was sponsored for the weekend by local hotspot Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles, would line up fourth in the GT-C class for Saturday’s two-hour ALMS contest.

Two hours later, the team would be celebrating their second podium in only three races in the ALMS, albeit with a bit of controversy as Stanton and Dion von Moltke’s no. 68 made contact down the back straightaway while contesting for the third spot.

Team owner John Potter took the green flag to start the race, battling for second place in the first hour while conquering the challenges of making room for faster prototype traffic around the tricky confines of a street course. The team split strategies with the leaders during an early yellow, electing not to pit, which created a real strategy situation for all teams as they gambled on when another yellow might fall. An anticipated mid-race caution period unfortunately never came, and the no. 77 spent a long time on fading tires, with Potter doing his best to keep pace with the leading pack. Handing the car over to teammate Craig Stanton with under an hour to go, an uncharacteristic spin from Stanton set up the chase at the end with von Moltke, which saw him claw back the thirty-second lead that von Moltke enjoyed.

“With so many local fans really rooting for our car, the pressure was on to deliver a podium,” said Potter. “It was definitely a rough day out there – we got knocked around a bit by faster traffic and I got into the back of a car when we stacked up in the hairpin. These races really are about keeping all four tires on the car and pointed in the right direction. But all things considered it’s great to get another podium in the ALMS and we had a great time here in Long Beach, enjoying the sun and eating lots of chicken and waffles.”

Stanton, while happy that he was able to drive the Magnus Racing Porsche onto the podium, was not thrilled about the way von Moltke’s race came to an end.

 “I feel bad that Dion’s car ended up damaged, but it was one of those deals,” said Stanton. “I ran my line and he ran his, and he went for a ride into the wall. I don’t like when things like that happen but there isn’t any margin for error on a street circuit like this. I love competing here at Long Beach, and it was incredible to enjoy a lot of local support for our team and to be partnered with Roscoe’s.”

The television replay of the American Le Mans Series at Long Beach will run Sunday on ESPN2 at 5:00 PM ET, and is available on demand at ESPN3.com.

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-American Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

About Roscoe’s House of Chicken 'n Waffles

At Roscoe’s, fried chicken and waffles are our specialties! No one knows chicken like Roscoe’s, but chicken and waffles are only part of our story. We are also famous for our delicious greens, mac and cheese, cornbread, red beans and rice. Roscoe’s is a place for the entire family and is a household name internationally, renowned throughout the entertainment industry and general public with regular guests ranging from Snoop Dogg to CNN’s Larry King. Roscoe’s opened its first restaurant in 1975 and now operates five restaurants in the Southern California area. The Long Beach location has a jazz club - the Seabird Jazz Lounge, and the company promotes the best tasting energy drink on the market – Pitbull Energy Drink.

For more information regarding everything Roscoe's visit www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com. For more information regarding the 'Club at Roscoes' visit www.seabirdjazzlounge.com. More information on Pitbull Energy Drink can be found at www.hiphopbev.com.



Long Beach – Friday Report

Friday morning in Long Beach started early for Magnus Racing, as the lone practice session for the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series race began at 7:15 AM and would run until 9:15 AM. Although the crowd was on the thin side that early in the morning, those that were watching practice couldn’t help but notice the unique Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles livery on the no. 077 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

The practice session went well, despite a light tap of the wall by John exiting turn eight, and Craig laid down a lap good enough for second in the session. Throughout the rest of the day, the team was by far the most popular of the ALMS paddock with race fans surprised and thrilled by the Roscoe’s livery on the Porsche. With hospitality girls from Pit Bull Energy Drink on hand, the Magnus Racing transporter was a hub of activity throughout the day.

Unfortunately qualifying would not go as well for the team, as Craig could only find speed good enough for fourth on the grid. After the session, the team discovered a leak in the left rear tire of the car, and it will be replaced for the start of the race tomorrow afternoon.

“We didn’t have the qualifying we wanted, but I told Craig it was okay,” said John, with a smile. “I’ll clean up his mess.”

Stanton, however, is looking forward to a shot at redemption on the streets of Long Beach in tomorrow’s two-hour ALMS race.

“It is so great to have so many friends and family here to support us,” said Stanton. “All of our hometown friends, my go-kart buddies, and everybody from Roscoe’s and Pit Bull have made this a really special event. I’m looking forward to watching John take our car to the front and then I’m looking forward to bringing it home.”

The American Le Mans Series race at the Long Beach Grand Prix will start at 4:30 PM PST and finish two hours later at 6:30 PM PST. The race can be viewed in its entirety at ESPN3.com, with a broadcast on ESPN2 on Sunday, April 17, at 5:00 ET. Fans of Magnus Racing can follow the team on Facebook (facebook.com/magnusracing) and twitter (@magnusracing).

Magnus Racing Welcomes Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles to American Le Mans Series at Long Beach

April 11, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – In another major announcement for Magnus Racing, the team is proud to announce that it has formed a partnership with Los Angeles-based Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles for the upcoming American Le Mans Series at Long Beach, a featured event at the 37^th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

“It’s really exciting to get local businesses involved in this type of event,” said John Potter, owner of Magnus Racing. “Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles is a staple of the Southern California community, and I’m proud that they will be the primary sponsor of our Porsche next weekend in Long Beach. We’re excited that they will be a part of our team for the weekend and that they will be a part of the World Class American Le Mans Series.”

A cultural landmark of Southern California, Roscoe’s  House of Chicken ‘n Waffles brought soul food to Southern California in 1975 with the first 24-hour diner in Los Angeles. Its signature dish, Scoe’s Chicken prepared Southern Style with two waffles, has been popularized by the restaurant’s famous patrons - which include singers, to players of all Los Angeles sports teams, to countless television and movie stars. On any given night at Roscoe’s you might find Snoop Dogg or Larry King.

Roscoe’s Long Beach location, one of five operated by the company, is located mere blocks from the Grand Prix Circuit at the intersection of Broadway Blvd and Alamitos St and is traditionally a hub of activity during the Grand Prix weekend. This year, however, will mark the first time that the distinctive chicken and waffle logo will appear on a race car. Driver Craig Stanton, who lives not far from the Roscoe’s Long Beach location, knows all about the legendary status Roscoe’s has in the Long Beach community.

“Roscoe’s is an institution in Long Beach,” said Stanton. “It’s like a secret handshake – if you are from this area you know all about Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. Everyone has been there at least once. It is a real honor to be a part of this, especially since I’m from Long Beach, and I hope the fans enjoy this as much as I am going to.”

Additionally, the no.77 Magnus Racing Porsche GT3 Cup will feature additional sponsorship from partnering companies Pitbull Energy Drink and Seabird Jazz Lounge. Pitbull, owned by the Hip Hop Beverage Company, is the only minority-owned independent energy drink in the nation.  Most popular for featuring no aftertaste and rated as one of the best tasting energy drinks on the market, Pitbull Energy Drink is available at Los Angeles and Orange County Chevron stations, Jethro’s Cash & Carry, and is coming soon to Walgreens. Seabird Jazz Lounge is another staple of Long Beach. Featuring a number of jazz and other musical acts, the club is rich with a diverse group of acts and a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere. 

The American Le Mans at Long Beach will be Magnus Racing’s second GT-C race of the season, and their last until the Baltimore Grand Prix in September. However, after being taken out of contention while leading the class in the eighth hour of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, the team is eager to get the ‘Party Barge’ – the name bestowed on the team’s ALMS Porsche, in honor of the turn 10 crowd at Sebring – into victory circle.

“Without a doubt, we have some unfinished business in GT-C,” said Potter. “We were really robbed of our chance in Sebring. That’s just part of endurance racing, but it doesn’t make it much easier. We have a team that can win and that’s what we are setting out to do in Long Beach.”

The American Le Mans at Long Beach weekend begins with Friday morning practice, 7:15 AM – 9:15 AM PST before qualifying in the afternoon, with GT-C qualifying scheduled for 5:20 PM – 5:35 PM PST. The Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach will begin on Saturday at 4:30 PM PST with the checkered flag falling at 6:30 PM PST.

The race can be viewed live in its entirety on ESPN3.com, with coverage beginning at 4:15 PST, with a broadcast on ESPN2 on Sunday, April 17, at 5:00 ET. Fans of Magnus Racing can follow the team throughout the weekend on Facebook (facebook.com/magnusracing) and twitter (@magnusracing).

About Magnus Racing

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-American Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

About Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles

At Roscoe’s, fried chicken and waffles are our specialties!  No one knows chicken like Roscoe’s, but chicken and waffles are only part of our story. We are also famous for our delicious greens, mac and cheese, cornbread, red beans and rice. Roscoe’s is a place for the entire family and is a household name internationally, renowned throughout the entertainment industry and general public with regular guests ranging from Snoop Dogg to CNN’s Larry King. Roscoe’s opened its first restaurant in 1975 and now operates five restaurants in the Southern California area. The Long Beach location has a jazz club - the Seabird Jazz Lounge, and the company promotes the best tasting energy drink on the market – Pitbull Energy Drink.

For more information regarding everything Roscoe's  visit www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com. For more information regarding the 'Club at Roscoes' visit www.seabirdjazzlounge.com. More information on Pitbull Energy Drink can be found at www.hiphopbev.com.

Magnus Racing Retains Points Lead and Finishes as Best Porsche at Porsche 250

April 10, 2011 (Birmingham, Alabama) – Entering this past Saturday’s Porsche 250 as the points leader in the GT class of the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask no.16, Magnus Racing’s duo of John Potter and Craig Stanton were looking for another strong run to stay at the front of the title chase.

Historically the hilly, 2.3-mile road course has not been a good one for Porsches and the high ambient temperatures in Birmingham, Alabama would also mean high cockpit temperatures that Potter and Stanton would have to contend with. Tire management would also play a large factor in the race as tire degradation would be very high with the fast corners and major elevation changes of Barber Motorsports Park.

After qualifying in twelfth position, Potter took the green flag and ran consistently throughout the first hour of the race, advancing two positions before turning the car over to Stanton under yellow. Taking over the car, Stanton was able to advance several positions and the team’s strategy helped to put him up into the lead for a period of time. However, a late-race caution put Stanton out of touch with the GT class leaders, and he brought the no.44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car home in fifth place, the best placed Porsche in the GT field.

“We are really focused on the championship, and Barber is a difficult track for the Porsche,” said Potter. “Our goal was really to drive our race and try to not get caught up in any battles at the start – really we were racing the track and managing our car and tires for the end of the race. This isn’t a place where we are going to beat anyone on speed so we planned our strategy and took what the race gave us.”

The result, their third top-five of the GRAND-AM season, means that Stanton and Potter currently share the lead of the GT class standings with Bill Auberlen and Paul Dalla Lana at 83 points, and are only a single point ahead of Sylvain Tremblay and Jonathan Bomarito. Potter also sits second in the Bob Akin Award standings for GT drivers.

“Coming away with good points from Barber is really great for us in the championship,” said Stanton. “The points differences are super-close now and will probably still be super-close at the end of the year. We can’t afford to have bad races, so to come away with a fifth from Barber, a place that isn’t the best for the Porsche, is really good. I could see the two Mazdas ahead of us at the end but we just didn’t have enough to catch them. We had a great car and a great strategy and we still come away with the points lead, and that is the most important thing.”

Magnus Racing won’t get much of a break as they will compete in next week’s American Le Mans Series race at the Long Beach Grand Prix, competing in the GT-C class. That race will be held on Saturday, April 16, from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET, and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com.  The race will also be shown on ESPN2 on Sunday, April 17, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET.

The next GRAND AM race will be the Bosch Engineering 250, held at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, VA on May 14. Last year’s race at VIR saw Magnus Racing record their best finish of the season when they finished in fourth.

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-American Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.



The team in green looks to defend Porsche’s honor at the Porsche 250

April 4, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – You could say that there is a little bit of extra pressure on the Magnus Racing team this week.

As the leading Porsche in the GRAND- AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask no.16, the driving duo of team owner John Potter and Craig Stanton are keen to put in a good showing at the Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama on April 8-9. In addition to sponsoring the event, Porsche bases its Porsche Sport Driving School at the facility, and there will no doubt be a large contingent of Porsche owners at the race.

Hitting closer to home, however, is the fact that the no.44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup enters the weekend as the leaders in the GT class points standings.  Potter and Stanton teamed with Richard Lietz and Marco Holzer to finish fourth at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona before finishing third at last month’s Grand Prix of Miami. The team also competed at 12 Hours of Sebring two weeks ago – joined by Hong Kong’s Matthew Marsh, the team’s Porsche was leading the GT-C class in the eighth hour until losing several laps in the pits when it was hit by a prototype.

With three strong performances to start the year, the team is riding a wave of momentum that they hope extends to the fourth round of the Rolex Sports Car Series.

“It has been a really good start to the season for the team,” said Potter. “We entered the year with the plan to contend for the championship and get the best results possible on any given day. If we can win, we’ll win, if we can’t, we’ll finish second, and so on. Since we received our new Porsche the guys have been really focused on developing it, and I think we’ll have a competitive car at Barber.”

Teammate Stanton, who visited a Rolex Sports Car Series podium for the first time in six seasons in Homestead, is more than excited about getting back behind the wheel of the no.44 Magnus Racing Porsche.

“We had a great run going in Sebring, but ever since I got out of our Rolex Series car in Homestead I’ve been waiting to get back in it,” said Stanton. “The series is so competitive right now and all the other teams have been raising their game, but Lars, John, and the rest of the guys have done a great job with our Porsches all year. It’s great to be in a position of contending for a championship, even though it is still really early in the year. We’re going to take it one race at a time and just do everything we can to get good results.”

The Rolex Sports Car Series can still be found on live television, and will be shown live on Saturday, April 9, on SPEED Channel at 12:00 ET.

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-American Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.