When you mention Petersen White Lightning you will distinctly remember just who I am talking about. Their race car was instantly recognizable to everyone with the striking red lightning bolts running along the side of the Porsche GT3 RSR, but it was not just the well-designed graphics of the car that the team were well known for it was the success on and off the track. Petersen White Lightning were one of the most successful privateer race teams to grace the worlds race circuits other the years.

Sadly, the team came to a sudden end when it was announced back in 2007 that the team would no longer be circuit racing…so what happened to the team and where are they now!

In an exclusive interview with the team its evident to see that the main driving force that lead to the team been so successful was mainly down to one man whose attention to detail, commitment and pinpoint strategy made this band of brothers a championship winning team.

Petersen Motorsports White Lightning Racing was founded in 1989 by Mike Petersen and Dale White who first met in the mid-1980's and its Dale who was the driving force within the team, nicknamed the master of tactics by many motorsport professionals and journalists Mike Petersen talks about how they first meet.

Mike Petersen:

“I was looking for a person to build a desert pre runner as I was desert racing many years ago and was told about Dale from a friend of mine, so I looked him up and we hit it off right away! So, he built the truck and we decided to race off road together in class 8 for many years. We had so many great memories and numerous wins in Baja and many other races. After a few years looking for another challenge, we chatted one day, and I said I’m ready for a change, are you? Of course, Dale was in with full commitment and thus started our road racing partnership”.

Dale was a very successful off-road desert racer in the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000 and Mike and Dale soon became one of the most successful off-road truck operations in history with championships in SODA, SCORE and SNORE, over 50 wins, 80 podiums and four consecutive class victories in both the Baja 1000 and Baja 500 in their Chevy pick-up trucks winning overall titles in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

But it was their circuit racing that the team was better known for when they moved to sports car racing in the 1990's, under Dales leadership the team soon grew into not just a team but a family. The team opted to run Porsche 911-based cars in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the introduction of two young drivers Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister cemented the foundations for what was to become one of the most successful privateer Porsche race Teams in history, Pat Long talks about his first day with the team.

Patrick Long:

“My call to join PWL came just before the Le Mans Pre Test in 2004. At that time, I had only 3 endurance Sports Car races of any type under my belt; now I was on the way to the oldest and biggest sports car race in the world and joining two of the best drivers in Sports Car racing. No pressure.

Walking up to the rig on the pit lane at Le Mans I was greeted by Stefan Pheifer. A smiling face, he was direct, but on the gas and all business. He made quick work of team intros and we were all got stuck in, getting seat fit and protocol overviews out of the way, even though it was two days until the car was to run. I feel that was mainly Dale’s way; with a background in desert off road, it was all about protocol and preparation. That evening as I got to know more of our small, mainly youthful crew, we shared a beer at the catering tent and talked about funny stories of the past. Like old friends. Two weeks later we would be celebrating our first Le Mans victory”.

Since entering sports car racing full time, The Petersen / White Lightning race cars not only swept the GT2 Championship in the ALMS in 2005 and 2006 but also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans GT class twice in 2003 and 2004. The 12 Hours of Sebring 2005, Petit Le Mans 2005, the Monterey Sports Car Championship 2005, the 24 Hours of Daytona 2001 and the Six Hours of the Glen in 1998. Plus, a total of six ALMS wins as well as three SCCA World Challenge events and a Trans-Am Series race.

It was evident that this crew had something special referring to themselves as a Band of Brothers, a Brotherhood that stood out from the rest of the teams in the paddock.

Dean Richardson, Team Spotter: 2004 - 2007

“The thing I remember the most about PWL was the laughter. We laughed all the time. It's a necessity when working long hours. One moment that sticks out in my memory was after a race in California. Two of our drivers (who will remain nameless) got into a tree-climbing contest after the bars had closed. They weren't big trees. When we coaxed them down one of the drivers slipped, fell out of the tree and landed hard. Found out later that he fractured his wrist. He made me swear to secrecy that I do not tell anyone because he had a race overseas coming up. I never did until now”.

Andrew Cushman, Technician and Tire Changer (Pit Stop), Mid-2004 (post- Le Mans) – 2007

“Work hard and play hard, that was the best part. We played harder than anyone! We also played the game of...last one to the track and first to leave to play the full mental mind f*&$ scenario”.

Asked what their fondest memories where came with a mixed response but what was evident was, they all shared the same feelings toward each other, and all talked about how Dale and the team instilled memories that they will never forget.

Nico Castellaccio

“My Fondest memory, this is going to be tough since I have so many. So many emotions come to mind as I'm shaking off the cobwebs and dusting my mind. From Dale telling us "we're here to have fun" to becoming a serious team that became a threat. I don't think I can pick one fondest thing. Every weekend I took everything to heart. It truly has been one of the highlights of my life that I'm not sure can be duplicated. The others are finding Victoria and having my children. The team was truly my second family, band of brothers. Lightning never strikes twice, once in a lifetime opportunity.

Mike Petersen

“So many! The team experience for me as we were like a family, we won together and lost together. I love those guys still do! For me the best memories were Le Mans wins, 2 of them, as this was always on Father's Day, and being a Dad and having the ability to do things I dreamed about as a child because of my Dad I was able to go and do it for a few years, with my brother's and sister's aka "the dream team" is something I will never forget that feeling to this day.

Dean Richardson

“Fondest memory, Just one? Not sure that is possible. The wins were always at or near the top, but I think 2007 Road America might be my favorite memory. We were running in 3rd position towards the end of the race when IMSA control notified us that the brake lights had stopped working and we would need to bring the car in for service. We notified the driver, (Dirk Muller) and rather than come in he said he would "take care of it". We all wondered what that meant. Turned out that Dirk's solution to the problem was as he braked for a turn he would manually flip on the "Rain Light" and when he got off the brakes, he would flip it back off. It was brilliant and hilarious. I would love to say that it worked, and we scored a podium, but the car failed post-race tech because of the lights, and we ended up being moved to 4th place. Made for a great story regardless”.

Andrew Cushman

By far my fondest memories with PWL was the camaraderie. We lived, slept, and ate racing together as a family, and that’s what fueled us to be one of the most winning and influential teams around. We had factory programs watching us and changing what they were doing to mimic our winning ways. On top of that, and because of how we did things, we were winning! My podium/ winning record with them was amazing. We won every major race that most people just dream about.

Dale himself simply summed it up by saying “Watching a championship team in action”.

By the late nineties the team had established themselves within the GT Racing world making an impact in the PSCR and USRRC series (United States Road Racing Championship) that by the end of 1999 had both merged into the new Rolex Sports Car Series. Dale and Mike wanted to push the team further and in 1999 the team entered their first 24-hour race, the 24 Hours of Daytona, unfortunately their first attempt of round the clock racing ended in a DNF. The team returned to Daytona in 2001 taking the GT Class win and second overall, by now the lure of the Le Mans 24 Hours was at the forefront of Mikes and Dales next chapter in history.

The team made their debut at Circuit de la Sarthe in June 2003 taking the GT Class win and returned the following year in 2004 to take the win for the second time. The team went on to return for the next two years coming home second in 2005 despite having to rebuild the complete car after a nasty incident during the Thursday night qualifying season. The bold graphics that we all came to love made its return in 2006 but this time sporting a green look rather than the red due to the partnership for the race with Krohn Racing, unfortunately during the night Bergmeister missed his breaking point and collided heavy with the Armco barriers on the Mulsanne straight resulting in the car having to retire, sadly it would also be the last time fans would see the Petersen Motorsports White Lightning Racing Porsche racing at Le Mans.

We knew this was going to be a silly question, but we had to ask both Mike and Dale if they would like to return to Le Mans if they had the chance, Dale again simply put it into one word “Absolutely” while Mike went on to say “I would as that place is so magical and deep with history who wouldn’t want to go back there!”

So why were the team a fan favorite! maybe it was down the fact that they were a private team with your average blokes and I say average with the upmost respect for them all or maybe it was down to stunning bright graphics Mike tells us the story behind the team colors.

“The graphics came from many years of racing other series and kind of transpired into what it was. It also had to incorporate the companies that I owned as well as the sponsors that were on board and of course the loud colors at the time were to make it seen much easier in the day as well as the glow at night”!

Asked if they were to race again would we still see the same livery Mike Petersen answered “Yes it was a Brand and that would not go away! Perhaps a little change here and there but not really too much more”!

Regardless of how many trophies the team won they never lost their camaraderie, fighting spirit and their commitment to having fun and with one or two jokers among the team fun was always part of the professional mix, “Joey Seely and Drew Cushman were always doing something” said Nico and Dean Richardson went on to say “In a team full of jokers I think Drew Cushman is the guy that had me laugh the hardest and most often but really everyone was funny.

Andrew (Drew) Cushman did get the chance to defend himself stating “I think we all were jokers in our own way. But I'm also known for going a bit too far. Not sure how that works out as "joker".

It came apparent to us in this interview that every team member had such admiration and respect for Dale so what was it like working for the man himself.

Nico Castellaccio “I was always intimidated by him. He was old school, I loved being on the team, that I didn't want to lose my job. I made sure to try and not make mistakes. I was pretty uptight until Dale and Mike took Kent and I on a weekend trip to Miami to watch one of the races”

Dean Richardson “Amazing! I work in the corporate world and to this day I try to lead my teams the way that Dale led us. We were a small team, and as a result, a lot was expected from us. We worked hard, not because we were afraid of repercussions but rather, we didn't want to let Dale down. I think all of us felt that way. The other thing about Dale was he always had your back. My race day role was monitoring our car's progress through the field and during yellow flags notifying the driver whether we were pitting or not. At Petit Le Mans one year, I made a mistake and made the wrong call. Dale calmly got on the radio wanting to know what happened. I explained the mistake and that was it. I felt terrible. Hours later a reporter asked Dale about that daring pit strategy that we used early in the race. I watched as Dale answered him with a smile that "yeah it was risky, but we thought it was the right call." Never once alluding to my mistake”.

Andrew Cushman “You always knew what you got with Dale. He never pulled punches. I appreciate people like that”.

The team raced Porsche 911-based race cars in the early days and in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) but unfortunately for Porsche fans the team announced that they would be campaigning in the Ferrari F430 GT in the American Le Mans for 2007 and in October 2006 at Laguna Seca it would be the last time fans would see the team racing in a Porsche and it was also the last time Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister would race for the team, the team also announced on the same day that they would be returning to their roots competing in the Dakar in 2007.

The start of 2007 saw the team return to their grass roots competing in the grueling Dakar Rally coming home in an impressive fifth place in the two-wheel drive class. The team returned to American Le Mans Series in the new Ferrari F430, still sporting the team's colors and graphics. They had countless success with Porsche’s and they were hoping for the same with the Ferrari, unfortunately that did not go to plan and the team was hit with bad luck after bad luck, it also led to the dismissal of Driver Thomas Edge after a run of mistakes. The team went on to only take one victory that year in series and subsequently called it day and closed the pit garage for good.

Mike Petersen went on to say “The hardest decision in the team's history for me was to decide we had done what we all set out to do and it was time to give it up.

Dale and the rest team went on to other ventures one that saw Dale return to Le Mans with Drayson Racing but asked what was your hardest decision you had to make Dale responded “Continuing the second half of the 2007 season after Petersen Motorsports discontinued their funding”.

Today Dale and Mike are both retired from Motorsport while the team are still successfully employed with other race teams and outlets, Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister went on to become Porsche Factory Drivers and have countless wins including Le Mans under their belt, Tom Moore the Teams Media Manger still kept his roots with Porsche and is now the Motorsports Public Relations Consultant for Porsche Cars North America.

So, the question we all want to know is are we likely to see the team back together again at some point!

Dale answered with a definite “Yes” if the right offer came around, while also saying “I would love to race with a Porsche again” when asked would it be a Porsche again, Dale also went on to saying “I love endurance racing, but I am open for new experiences”.

Mike also stated “Well, that is a tough one. At this time in my life I may if the right offer came, but it would only work if some of the key people would come back. So yes, if some pieces could plug in”, he also would like to return in a Porsche saying “they were like and extend family to me and to us all! It was an Honor and a privilege to represent them to race with and for them. As an endurance racer I would like to have a go at the FIA WEC new challenge new tracks and to go up against teams from all over the world that is what it is all about”!

Patrick Long responded to the question with “Heck yes! I am very happy where I am today, but I have fond memories of running with PWL. Similar to my program with Wright Motorsport, we had a family and racing atmosphere at PWL. Work hard, succeed and then celebrate as a brotherhood. There is nothing better.

Andrew Cushman “I would love to get the band back together. I also cherish the time we had together. Sometimes you just have to look back on what has happened and appreciate it. Also knowing it may never happen again”.

Nico Castellaccio “I would go back. Dale would find the right guys for the positions and it would be simple. Not sure how he does it, but he does”.

So, no definite yes and no definite no to the question will the team return, one thing for sure the crew of Petersen White lightning definitely left their mark in the History of Motorsport and gave us all fond memories that we will never forget.

“We started in SCAA club events and then slowly worked our way up to the top with some of the best manufactures around! To this day to think we raced for Chevy, Porsche, and Ferrari for me is truly a dream come true with the best team, teammates and Drivers in the world what more could a person ask for! I feel truly blessed to have gone to battle with all the people that were with us through the years! So, THANK YOU to all of you”. Mike Petersen 2020.