Stanton will be overseeing all racing operations and acting as the development driver for Evosport Engineering in the further development of their full range of performance products for Mercedes-Benz automobiles.

Craig is very uniquely qualified for this new role, having won numerous pro titles in addition to years of testing for manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz/AMG, Porsche, Michelin, Nissan, Infiniti, Yokohama, Continental, Chevrolet, Ford, and Subaru.

“I was contacted by the principals of MBBS several months ago with the concept, and everything fell into line” said Stanton.   “In the racing world, sometimes being in the right place at the right time is key. This AMG Black Series is going to be one remarkable racecar.  I’m thrilled to be leading the charge for MBBS and representing the Evosport brand.”

Evosport has been a leader in performance products for the European car market since 1999, specializing in race car prep, street car service, and the highest-quality performance parts for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari vehicles.  Noteworthy is the fact that Evosport has touched more Black Series vehicles than anyone save Mercedes-Benz themselves.  MBBS Racing is the road racing arm of the company, and strives to push product development that directly results from the team’s experience on the track.  Situated in Huntington Beach, California, Evosport Engineering and MBBS Racing maintain one of the premier operations in the industry.  www.evosport.com 

LONG BEACH, Calif. — As the longest road race in North America, the 25 Hours of Thunderhill requires a solid driver lineup to be successful.  Veteran pro endurance racer Craig Stanton and Gram-Am standout Ryan Eversley will join team owner/driver Dan Gardner as well as regular Scott Webb to handle driving duties at the prestigious event. 

“Our DG-Spec Scion tC racecars have raced about everywhere possible on both a club and pro level,” said Dan Gardner. “Still, we’ve never taken on the 25-Hour, and I wanted to ensure we had the very best guys behind the wheel.  I can’t think of two better drivers than Craig Stanton and Ryan Eversley, and it’s our honor to have this caliber of driving talent on the team.”

Stanton has won the 25-Hour overall, and clearly knows what it takes to win the event.  He has won the 2004 Koni Challenge GS Championship as well as the 2005 Rolex GT Championship, and has wins in nearly every conceivable sports car pro series in North America, including ALMS.

“I drove the Scion with Dan in Grand-Am in a huge 50-car ST field a few years back,” recalls Stanton.  “I’ve always thought about coming back to drive for Dan and Scion.  This is that chance.  As far as development goes, I’d put this DG-Spec team up against any in the paddock, and I’m beyond excited to be a part of the whole thing.”

In 2004, Eversley competed in ALMS in the extremely quick LMP2 class, taking one win during the season.  In 2010, he claimed eight top-five finishes in Grand-Am’s ST class.  This past Grand-Am season, Eversley really came into his own, finishing second in the standings for ST, a scant three points away from the championship.

“I’ve run against Dan as a competitor in the past, and I’m excited to join DG-Spec and Scion Racing.  I’ve never run the 25, but have done the 24 Hours of Daytona four times,” explained Eversley.  “From what I’ve seen, I think we’re going to have the most tested car in the class, and I’m thrilled to represent the team and the brand.”

The 25 Hours of Thunderhill takes place in Willows, California the first week of December.  It begins at 11 a.m. Pacific on Saturday, December 3rd, and the checker will fly at high noon on Sunday, December 4th.  Information on the event as well as live timing and scoring can be viewed at www.NASA25Hour.com. 

Photos, videos, and updates on the team can be found on DG-Spec’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/DG-Spec/202937143062874 as well as their YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/DanGardnerSpec. 

The DG-Spec team uses and is supported by:

• Scion-supplied OE parts

• TRD front big brake kit

• Garrett by Honeywell GTX-series turbocharger

• Burns Stainless exhaust and aluminum intake

• OS Giken Super Lock Limited Slip Differential (LSD)

• Dezod-supplied turbo kit, AEM standalone engine management, plug-and-play harness, fuel rail, and injectors

• Church Automotive Testing dyno tuning

• Pilot Automotive HID driving lamps

• Enkei RPF-1 17x8 wheels

• Moton Suspension remote reservoir coilover shocks

• Vogtland springs

• DG-Spec Progress Technology rear swaybar and camber kits

• Motul brake fluid, engine oil, transmission fluid, and super coolant

• Tri-Mountain Racewear team gear

• Racepak IQ3 logger dash and VNET sensors

• AEM sensors, fuel pressure regulator, boost solenoid, EMS, and dry flow air filter

• Kaminari carbon-fiber roof and composite headlights

• America’s Tire Co. tire mounting and balancing

• Racetech Viper head-restraint race seat and 6-point harnesses

• Centerforce clutch and low-inertia steel flywheel

• AIT carbon-fiber hood and hatch

• Goodridge complete suite of fittings and lines

• Carbotech Performance Brakes

• Energy Suspension bushings and motor mounts

• HoseTechniques silicone hoses

• NST Braille batteries, and shifter bushings

• SquareSkull designs

DG-Spec is a line of parts designed and endorsed by National Champion Scion road racer Dan Gardner. Gardner draws up the specifications for the parts himself. The parts are then tested and proven on the track. The goal of DG-Spec is to provide enthusiasts with parts that have been developed on the track and that have significant performance advantages at an honest price. Parts are offered either in hardcore track trim, identical to what Gardner and his team race with, or in Gardner-specified standards more appropriate for enthusiast use on the street. www.DanGardnerSpec.com

So with that in mind, I already have big plans in the works for next year with a new team based out of Orange County. This will be great for me since it is so close to home and I will be able to spend much more time with the team. I don't have a lot of details on it yet, but I will definitely share any news as soon as I can.

We're still working on some potential Grand-Am or ALMS rides for next year as well, but at this point I don't have anything concrete or in writing, we are still weighing our options. I'm working hard to find something for Daytona since we ran so well there last year, I feel like I always have a shot to win when I roll in through the tunnel.

A few years ago I was able to do some off road racing, and that is something I would love to revisit in 2012. The Baja 500 and 1000 are extremely huge events that are every bit as prestigious as Daytona or Sebring, and I would love to get involved. I am always up for a new challenge, and joining an off road program, or even starting my own, would certainly be a great challenge.

On top of all of that, I am making a big push to increase my karting for next year as well. Not only do I plan to do a bunch more Craig Stanton Kart Days at CalSpeed in Fontana, CA, but I also plan to get my TaG and shifter kart out a few times. Karting is the best way to stay in top racing form since a kart can require more physical endurance than a car. Karts really pull a lot of G's so it is not only hugely beneficial to me as a racer, but also a ton of fun.

I'm really excited about what we already have for 2012. We have a great new program and car in the works, and I am really happy with where we are at as a team already. By the time the season starts we should be looking really good.

Craig

Dodge and Daytona obviously go really well together, all you have to do is look at that big winged, pointed nose, all out racecar from the early 70's to know why.

My Dodge from Lux Perfomance, didn't have quite as large of a wing and it didn't have a Hemi, but it did have an enormous V10.

I always look forward to a race at Daytona because it is such hollowed ground and I have a ton of laps there. I always know going in that I will have a good shot at victory. On top of that, I knew that the crew with the Pennzoil Viper would give me top notch equipment. Sure enough, we were fast all weekend.

We had two races over the weekend and in each I had the great chance to team up with NHRA Pro Stock legend Allen Johnson. It was really awesome to have the chance to work with Allen and he really gets it. Racing is in his blood and I think we both learned a lot from each other coming from very different racing backgrounds.

I had a bit of an issue in my first race at the start, so I essentially started last. I battled back and managed to get into the top 5 by race end. Definitely not a bad result.

The Viper really suited my style. Compared to the Porsche that I normally race, the Viper allows you to get up on the wheel a bit more, especially on corner entry. With the engine hanging over the rear axle in the 911 you really have to baby it in and run a late apex to get maximum speed with the grip available. The Viper has the engine out front, but it is almost entirely behind the front wheels so it performs very neutral. It was really a blast to drive.

Going to race two I had a little better start, but still not perfect. I had some ground to make up again. I was being careful not to abuse the clutch as the V10 has plenty of torque to destroy a lot of drivetrain parts if you aren't careful. I managed to get through the field again up to second and right on the leaders rear bumper when the checkers flew. Another lap or two would have been interesting, but that is racing.

Being able to drive into victory lane to stand on the podium is always fantastic and this was no different. As I said, Daytona is a special place to me so I made sure to soak in the moment.

I have to again thank everyone at Lux Performance, Dodge, Michelin and Pennzoil for setting me up with a great car that can't be described any better than simply fantastic.

We will be getting back into the swing of a normal routine here now that the racing season is all but over. I will have three kart days coming up in the next two months, Nov. 20th, Dec. 10th and Dec. 14th. We will be sure to put up info on how to sign up shortly.

There will also be plenty more about fitness and nutrition coming up since the off season is the best time to get into a good and healthy routine.

Until next time,

Craig

So, here we are at Road Atlanta running through the motions of a race week, yet unsure if we will actually race. Some might get a little frustrated, but I figure that we are really quick and if we race we will be in good shape, if we don't it will be a bummer but we will move on. Business as usual in the racing world.

Over the past week or so since Mid-Ohio I have been running around like crazy getting ready for the end of the year. I will be in Europe twice between now and the end of November, once for some training and then again in Italy for the Ferrari Challenge at the Mugello Circuit.

I'm really excited for the Ferrari Challenge event, because I will be putting in a lot of time on my Xbox using Forza Motorsport to practice the track layout. I will have a lot of updates and pictures from that of course.

At the end of October I will be back from my first trip to Europe and I will start a new detox program that I have heard a lot of good things about. It is a 3 week program from Sara Pettitt that helps the body go through a "Spring Cleaning." I'll keep everyone up to date on my progress with that so you can see if it is a good program for you. You can find out more at Food Is Medicine.us

You will also start noticing some new content on the side bar of the page. These are my partners such as Asea and HJC Motorsports, it is in construction now, but soon there will be a lot of great products and services there.

That's about it for now, I will have some updates throughout the week from Road Atlanta!

Craig

Hi everyone!

The season is winding down and our last Grand-Am race of 2011 is this weekend at Mid-Ohio. We are really excited to have a shot at the championship, (even if it is unlikely) and it really shows how far Magnus Racing has come in the past year. If we keep up these improvements we should run away with it next year!

Our last race was in Baltimore of course, at the new street circuit. Let me tell you, it was incredible! The crowd was amazing and the track was really cool. Technical, fast and dangerous! The football stadium was right next to the track plus it was the biggest group of race fans that hadn't necessarily been to a race before. So it made the atmosphere really cool, all of the fans were really eager to see a race in their backyard and they were so ready to party!

The chicane on the front stretch was funky, and I thought that the asphalt over the train tracks would never cure, but sure enough it did. Also, the organizers were not racing people at all, I dont know if they googled how to build a racetrack or what, but it came out awesome and they did a great job.

The race went well, John did a great job then when I got in the car we had a knock down battle for the last 40 minutes. The track was really bumpy and dangerous, but it was also very technical and fast, man you had to have your wits about you! It was really easy to make a small mistake and end your day, it was really cool. It was actually the most fun I have had in a while.

Of course, a few days later we headed off to Indy to run Sports Cars at the Brickyard. That was something that I never thought I could do and it was actually really mind blowing. I grew up listening to the race on the radio with my dad, just like he did when he was younger so it was really a cool moment to able to drive on that track and know that next year we will be racing on it! It is just something that you never think you will do as a Sports Car driver.

I'll have a more technical breakdown on that next week for those that are interested.

So back to Mid-Ohio, it is a busy weekend for me. Not only am I running for the GT championship, but I will also be teaming up with Ryan Eversley to hopefully help him take his Honda to the ST championship. The 360 guys always do a great job so I know we will have a great shot.

As for the GT championship, I actualy don't know the points off the top of my head. I need to call my mom and figure out the math, haha! But, we are entering like we always do and going for the win. We know it will take a miracle to take top honors in the points, but if we go out and win then we have done everything we can!

Craig

To start I'll introduce myself, I'm Patrick Britain. I met Craig a few years ago at Dromo 1 indoor karting in Orange, CA. A few months ago he decided to get some new ideas for his website and eventually I started taking care of this site and partially helping with his Facebook.

Typically, anything you see on his Facebook is either posted directly by Craig, or something he sent me directly for me to post. If it is not something directly from Craig, it will usually go to his fan page that I also run. Everything on Craig's Facebook fan page is posted by me.

The stories on this site are typically from conversations that I have with Craig and compile, in his own words, into articles. The other posts are from Craig's team, Magnus Racing's website.

Craig's Twitter is run by me as well, but is more often than not thoughts from Craig as well. Any tweet you see that is not from Craig will be followed with my initials, PB. This goes for Facebook posts as well, though as I mentioned, it is very rare for me to post anything not from Craig himself.

So, long story short, everything that is posted on Craig's Facebook, Twitter or this website is posted by Craig or directly from Craig, relayed to me. If it isn't, I will let you all know.

Thanks for all of your support,

Patrick

This week I am going to tackle one of the most argued forms of mental training, Sim Racing.

First, let's explain what Sim Racing is. Sim Racing is not your Need For Speed or NASCAR Thunder games, it is professional simulators such as rFactor, NASCAR 2003 by Papyrus, and of course iRacing. It is also extremely important to have a good solid racing wheel for your setup, a gamepad of keyboard will not help you.

Sim Racing is a great tool for a few reasons, the obvious being hand eye coordination. There is no easier way to train your eyes and hands than firing up the simulator and running for a few hours. You will instinctively begin to develop better reflexes as well too.

More importantly though, Sim Racing is a great way to develop your racing sub-concious. What I mean by that is, in endurance racing especially, a lot of the key to running fast and concistent laps is to get into your zone and stop thinking about what you are doing. That is when your sub-concious kicks in and the car becomes one with yourself. Much in the same way that Ayrton Senna explained his legendary qualifying lap in Monaco in 1988, though that is an extreme example.

What I like to do is get on one of my favorite simulators and run a long distance race, I'll then practice getting into my sub-concious as quickly as possible. At that point you begin to make less mistakes, stop questioning your moves before you make them, and be more impulsive. When you over think moves before you make them, you can sometimes miss your chance or go for the move too late. It is very important to make those decisions in a split second, which can't be done with the concious mind. When you are developing your ability to get into your sub-concious, you are also developing your instincts. While specific moves, lines and handling characteristics may not be 100% realistic in Sim Racing, your racing instincts carry over completely.

The key is getting to a point where the race on your computer is real to your mind, there is a moment where your environment dissapears and you become one with the steering wheel and monitor, much in the same way that you become one with your racecar. To your sub-concious mind, there is no difference.

Craig

August 20, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – Heading north of the border, Magnus Racing drivers John Potter and Craig Stanton arrived at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with plenty of momentum following their podium finsh last weekend at Watkins Glen International.

The no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 came off of the trailer well, with Stanton setting the third quickest time in the Friday morning practice session, and with Potter topping the Trueman / Akin session for Pro-Am drivers. In qualifying, Potter would put the Magnus Racing Porsche ninth on the GT grid for the Montreal 200.

At the start of the Montreal 200, Potter enjoyed a clean start and steadily moved up through the field throughout the first hour. As differing pit and fuel strategies began to be played out by the GT teams, Potter put in a long stint and would ultimately lead the GT race for a brief period of time before turning the car over to Stanton under green flag conditions.

Stanton rejoined the race in ninth position but would race his way to third position, challenging for the lead in the final thirty minutes behind the battle between the no. 57 Stevenson Camaro and the no. 70 Speedsource Mazda. However, a late race stop for fuel would cause Stanton to rejoin the race in 8^th position, picking off one car on the final lap to cross the line in seventh. The result was the tenth top-ten finish of the year for the Magnus Racing Porsche.

“We had a strong race and a good strategy today in Montreal,” said Potter. “There was some chaos in my stint out there – a lot of contact around me with the other GT cars, and it’s always interesting with the Daytona Prototypes here because it’s pretty narrow and there are concrete walls everywhere. It was nice to lead, but I just wanted to keep the car in good shape and turn it over to Craig in a good position.”

Stanton, who ran in a podium position in the Magnus Racing Porsche until he needed a splash for fuel with only a few minutes remaining, was disappointed to miss out a podium for the second straight weekend.

“The car was really good today,” said Stanton. “I thought we had a really great shot at a podium or maybe even a win, but the fuel mileage caught up with us at the end. A yellow would have helped, but we really needed one that was longer than two laps. It’s a little disappointing but we’ll be back strong at Mid-Ohio.”

With only one race remaining in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, Potter and Stanton sit fifth in the championship standings, 17 points behind points leaders Bill Lester and Jordan Taylor in the no. 88 Autohaus Camaro. Potter is also second in the Trueman / Akin standings for Pro-Am drivers. 

“Certainly, it does look like a bit of a long shot for us to have a shot at the championship,” said Potter. “But we aren’t out of it, and anything can happen. I’m proud that in our second season we are in a position to challenge for a championship, which is a demonstration of how hard the guys have been working and how good of a car they give Craig and I. I’m excited to see what happens at Mid-Ohio next month.”

The EMCO Gears Classic from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will be on September 16-17, and will be shown live on SPEED Channel at 3:00 PM ET on Saturday, September 17. 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

*Article Courtesy Of Magnus Racing

Easily the most requested blog for me over the past few months has been my workout routine. I've held out for as long as possible, but the pressure is too much. For your reading pleasure, here is the Craig Stanton Patented Workout Regime. 

*Not Really Patented

When I am not gearing up for a race weekend, I'll take Monday, Wednesday and Friday and do a two hour circuit program that is insane. Four full rounds, no rest in between; go from bench press to pull ups to leg press to 1 minute row at 30 strokes a minute and after that I will go row a boat for about an hour. The whole time you will want to make sure your heart rate is up above that of when you are in the racecar. This allows you to almost relax in the car because it is less than that of your training. This is the key to making your workout work for you.

After that I'll go home, eating along the way, taking in calories all of which is liquid. I also pay close attention to my electrolytes and amino acids. If you don't watch these you can cramp up and your workout will be a bit of a waste.

Hammer Nutrition makes a great recovery product, a lot of bikers and other athletes use it, 2 scoops and recovery starts. After an event you drink it and it has electrolytes and proteins etc, everything you need, take it as soon as you can.

Back to the workout, once I get home I'll hop on a bike and do an hour or an hour and half. Again, make sure your heart rate is up.

On my other days, I like to choose 2-3 events a day, betwen road biking, mountain biking, rowing, climbing, running, surfing and kayaking. It all depends on how I feel that day. If my legs are trashed I'll hop in the kayak then jog home.

Finally I try to kart once a week to keep all the racing muscles going, it is a lot like going to the batting cages for a baseball player, in fact I go to the batting cages too haha.

Each Tuesday I will post a blog that should give some helpful hints to other racers, athletes, fitness enthusiasts and anyone who wants to stay healthy!

This week I'll dive into arguably the most important aspect of a racer's diet; hydration.

I like to start by drinking at least a gallon of water per day. I bike, row, hike and generally move a lot so a lot of water is really key since I sweat a lot of it out. Sweat leads me to my next tip, electrolytes. 

A lack of electrolytes can cause muscle cramps or a lack of concentration which can be devastating in a racecar. The answer is obviously to get the electrolytes back into your body. Sports drinks do this, but also contain a lot of sugar and salt. I get around this by drinking Pedialyte mixed with a bit of water and a tiny bit of pure juice for flavor. The taste will take some getting used to, but over time you can add less juice as you get used to the taste. I'll sip on this mixture throughout a race weekend as well as during my workouts. It not only helps me perform at my best, but also helps me recover faster in between stints in the car.

Another thing I like to do is drink a few cap fulls of Asea in the morning and at night. It helps my body recharge and rejuvinate each day, you can check them out at Asea.net

Whenever I get on a plane I also hydrate even more. The reason is, your body absorbs a lot of moisture through the skin and in a heavily air conditioned environment like a plane or even an office, the humidity is kept very low and you can easily become dehydrated. A few extra bottles of water when you travel will help take care of your jet lag.

The bottom line is, always drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fresh fruit. The magnessium, potassium and other minerals will keep you feeling fresh and ready to go!

Craig

*Photo Credit: DD Photography

Hi everyone! I'm back with the first of many new blogs. We are going to have a weekly racing update, a weekly nutrition blog, a weekly fitness blog and another weekly blog that will be about whatever I feel like! In addition to all of that we will continue to post race recaps and previews of course.

This weekend at Mid-Ohio I'm mainly just hoping to have a good solid weekend. I have gone back to basics with the mental game since Laguna Seca, back in 2005 I really stepped things up and I have gone back to that. I feel good, strong and refereshed; I read some good books on the flight over so I am ready to go.

We have a new engineer for the weekend who is very good, and I am excited to have him on board. John Potter is feeling great and we both really like this track. It is always a good feeling to head to a track that you really like.

We are here for ALMS but it is a good test for the Rolex race here in a few months. The Rolex series is our main focus of course, so we are really hoping to get some good data and experience.

We're very excited, I'm excited that I am excited haha, I am really ready. When I am at the track 4-5 days a week I can sometimes lose track of how cool it really is. I have to bring myself back to reality that I get to do a really cool thing in life, it is important to understand that and that i am living my dream. I worked towards this for years so I need to take a step back and enjoy it while trying and give back.

Weather wil be warm this weekend, I feel good mentally and I have done everything I can, so I will bring my "A" game and see how it goes!

Thanks for following along!

Craig

July 10, 2011 (Salinas, CA) – Magnus Racing drivers John Potter and Craig Stanton scored another top-ten position on Saturday at the Continental Tire Sports Car Festival  powered by Mazda at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca when the no.44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup crossed the line in seventh position.

After qualifying in tenth, Potter enjoyed a trouble-free opening stint before turning the car over to co-driver Craig Stanton just before the 45 minute pitstop window closed. Aiming to stretch his fuel load as long as possible, Stanton was in fuel conservation mode but was able to move the Magnus Racing Porsche as high as the sixth position. The competitive nature of the GT field was obvious as third through ninth position ran in a train throughout a large portion of the second hour.

One by one, the GT field came into the pits but Stanton was able to stay out, leading two laps before his team brought him into the pits. Reemerging in 8^th position, the team’s fuel advantage was negated when the no. 23 Daytona Prototype dug a hole for itself in turn five and brought out an extended yellow flag period. On the ensuing restart, Stanton spun in turn two as he attempted to make up positions but was able to continue, losing only one position.

A separate incident brought out another full-course yellow and set up a ten-minute sprint to the finish. Stanton was able to make up two positions to cross the finish line in seventh place, salvaging a decent points position on the day.

“It was a bittersweet kind of race,” said Potter afterwards. “We had a great strategy and a better car than the result showed. But in the second half of the race the yellows didn’t help our strategy and we had an unfortunate spin at the end cost us a couple of positions. We had a podium car but it just wasn’t to be today.”

Stanton was frustrated with his late race off course excursion as he attempted to battle forward in the Magnus Racing Porsche. He then departed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on his bicycle to watch his wife, Joy, compete in a rowing competition in Oakland.

“I was trying to make something happen on that final yellow, and it just didn’t work out,” said Stanton. “We had some lapped cars in front of us and I just got it wrong heading into turn two on that restart.  I think we were in a really good position with fuel mileage but we kind of lost our advantage with those last yellows. The guys gave us a great car that should have been on the podium.”

Potter and Stanton currently sit fifth (or eighth) in the GT class points standings at 200 points, 22 points behind leaders Andrew Davis and Leh Keen – two of Magnus Racing’s alumni.

The next Rolex Sports Car Series race is in two weeks when despite bankruptcy, fist-pumping, and cultural pillars like The Situation, the series will return to New Jersey and the New Jersey Motorsports Park. The American Red Cross 250 will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel on Saturday, July 24, at 1:00 PM 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-mailinfo@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com.

Article Courtesy of Magnus Racing