born: Hollywood, Calif., USA

current residence: Long Beach, Calif., USA

wife: Joy

web site: www.craigstanton.com

helmet: blue with red and white striped flame design on top, light and dark blue checkers on bottom

unique note: Stanton has a dedication to physical fitness that includes participation in 27 triathlons.

major accomplishments:

championships: 3 Sports Renault regional titles (1987)
factory driver: Nissan (Speedvision Cup, 1998)

major sportscar wins: 1

endurance races: Rolex 24 of Daytona (’99 - ’03), Petit Le Mans (’99, ’02, ’03), 12 Hours of Sebring (’99, ’00, ’03)

honors: 1987 Sports Renault Driver of the Year, 1997 Speedvision Cup Rising Star Award winner, co-author of Racing The Sports Renault

bio brief
After a successful career in moto-cross/super-cross, Craig Stanton moved into auto racing in 1986. In his first year he broke four track records and finished fourth in regional championship points in Sports Renault. In his second season, he earned 22 wins, 17 pole positions and broke four track records in 49 races entered across five regions. In 1988, he entered 41 races, winning 29, including eight wins in 10 highly competitive national events. The performances gave Stanton his first three driver’s championships and a Driver of the Year award. He also drove in his first two professional events taking two podium finishes. In 1989, Stanton moved on to Formula Mazda and competed in California regional SCCA sedan races winning a three-hour event in SSGT-class. In 1990, he continued to compete in open wheel joining USAC’s Formula 2000 Pro Series. With his diversified experience, he was offered the development driver position for a NASCAR Southwest Tour team and an IMSA GTO team. That year Stanton co-authored Racing The Sports Renault with noted motorsports writer Don Alexander. From 1991-‘95, Stanton continued competing in both open wheel and sedan racing finishing as high as third in national points in the SSGT-class. He also raced a USAC Midget and again won several more of the California Region’s Three Hour Endurance events. In 1996, Stanton added to his resume competing in the IMSA Endurance Series, Compact Class. His performance in 1997 earned him the Speedvision Cup Rising Star Award and a second in Series points with two wins. In 1998, he utilized his talents becoming team manager, race and test driver for GTI Racing; a Nissan factory team in Speedvision Cup. In 1999, Stanton competed in both the ALMS and USRRC driving a GT3 R Porsche for Reiser-Callas Racing finishing the Rolex 24 at Daytona and placing third in class at 12 Hours of Sebring. He returned to Reiser-Callas in 2000, joined the NASCAR Winston Series for Late Model stock cars and drove a Trophy Truck-class entry in the SCORE Baja 2000. In 2001, Stanton became lead driver for EMC AASCO Racing in the Rolex Series driving a Porsche 911 GT3 R. In 2002, Stanton signed as lead driver for the Rolex Series with BoDuck AASCO Racing in a BMW M3 and a Ferrari 550 Maranello (GT-class) for XL Racing in three ALMS races, including the Petit Le Mans. In 2003, Stanton drove for Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing in the ALMS taking a GT victory at Road America and two other podium finishes and finishing in the top-five of six events. In Rolex Series competition he earned three top-ten finishes, two-top fives, in three early season events. He signed as lead driver for AASCO Motorsports’ 2004 Rolex Series SGS class effort to drive a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with David Murry.

outside the cockpit
Craig Stanton takes his fitness training to new heights each year. Along with his goal to be the fittest driver in America, he trains to be able to drive for as long as required for endurance racing. When time outside racing permits he enjoys staying fit with his friends doing mountain bike racing, triathlons, multi-sport adventure team racing, surfing and rock climbing. Stanton acts as a test driver, facilitator and driving instructor for Mercedes Benz, General Motors, Porsche, Jaguar, Lexus, Nissan, and Mitsubishi. In this role he provides training for their new vehicle launch programs. He has been Director of Motorsports at Autopian Motorsports Country Club at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, is a precision and stunt driver for car commercials and is a performance driving coach for private clients. Stanton lives in Long Beach with his wife, Joy, a physical fitness trainer.