Chicago, IL (1/4/2005) -- Anchor Racing will field two BMW M3s in the Grand Am Cup Series.   Team owner and driver, John Munson, will once again co-pilot the No. 92 Anchor Racing BMW M3 with James Sofronas.  Munson and Sofronas spent the majority of last season developing the M3 for the 2005 season, with a best place fifth finish at the California Speedway in Fontana, California.  Ace drivers, Boris Said and Anders Hainer will be copiloting the second Anchor Racing BMW M3.   The dynamic duo served as teammates last year in four Grand Am Cup races in the Unitech – Performance Nissan 350Z, with a first place finish at Homestead Miami Speedway.   

"Anchor Racing is very excited to have an all-star driver lineup,” reported Munson.  “After spending last year developing the car, we feel we have a great chance of winning the championship."  Boris Said will pilot the silver No. 93 Anchor Racing BMW M3 with Hainer.  Considered one of the most versatile and best road racers in the world, Said began road racing in 1987.  He has driven for BMW Team PTG for ten years, when the team first entered sports-car racing with a BMW M3. The veteran driver has successfully competed in Le Mans, Spa, and 24 hours of Nürburgring.  Highlight’s include: three time Showstock GT Champion, winner of the 1997 12 hours of Sebring, winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 1997 and 1998, 2002 Trans Am Champion, second in the prestigious 2004 24 Hours of Nürburgring, second in 2004 Rolex GT driver's championship, and 12 pole positions in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. “Boris has a long history of racing M3s with BMW Team PTG.  His talent and experience will be a great asset to this team and we are thrilled to have him onboard,” explained John. Busier than ever this season, Boris will also be racing in the 24 Hours of Daytona in a Pontiac Riley and running a full season with MB2 Motorsports in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

Hainer is looking forward to running a full season with Anchor Racing and sharing driving duties with Said.  Anders began his racing career in 1996, with numerous wins in POC, PCA, Professional Racing Organization (PRO), SCCA and NASA events.  In 2003, Anders took the GT3 class win at the Tribute to Lemans Enduro with teammate Steve Cross.  In 2004, Hainer marked his entry into the Grand American Cup series with a first place finish at Homestead Miami and two Grand-Am Cup pole positions with teammate, Said.  He repeated his class victory at the Tribute to Lemans Enduro race and finished second place in his first ever Ferrari Challenge at Laguna Seca driving for the Auto Gallery of L.A.  "I'm very excited to be part of the Anchor Racing team with owner, John Munson,” said Hainer. “John and his crew will put on a first class effort in the Grand-Am Cup during the 2005 season. I know that the team that John has assembled, between technicians, pit-crew, support staff, and drivers, etc, will produce excellent results. I will be driving with Boris Said, who is an amazing driver, and also an overall great guy. We had a lot of fun driving together last year in the Nissan. Boris is a perfect addition to the team that already consists of two very fast drivers, James Sofronas and team owner John Munson. My goal this year is to do a good job for the team, and to help Anchor Racing get a Championship.  I just can’t wait to get started!!”

Sofronas’ success in racing BMWs in both the Speed World Challenge and Grand Am Cup Series has played an integral role in the development of the Anchor Racing BMW M3s.  James has raced in a multitude of racing series. In 1994, Sofronas began racing Showroom Stock B winning rookie of the year while also clinching the 1994 Championship in both the SCCA North Atlantic Road Racing Series and the SCCA New England Road Racing Series. Sofronas has also secured 25 overall wins in BMW CCA Racing since 1998 making him the most successful BMW Club racer on the West Coast. In addition, he has 21 top ten finishes in the Speed World Challenge Touring Series and finished in the top 5 in the Grand Am Cup Series. In  2004, James finished fourth in driver’s points in the Speed World Challenge Touring Series with two podiums, four top fives, and nine top tens. "I am very happy to be back driving a BMW E46 M3 for John Munson and Anchor Racing in the Grand Am Cup Series,” reported James.  “John has once again shown he is committed to winning a Championship and I feel honored that he has chosen me to drive for him. They have brought in the top engineer, Nathan McBride, new crew personnel and John has taken the necessary steps to insure that the cars are prepared to the highest level by bringing in Tecmark Autosport to help with the new car's assembly.  Daytona can't happen soon enough!!!"

Munson's passion for racing BMWs began with BMW CCA and SCCA club racing events, with 9 pole positions and 7 podium finishes in a BMW E46 M3.  In 2003, John ran a partial season in the Grand-Am Cup series with Istook Aines Motorsports Group in an Audi S4, finished second in driver points in the SCCA T5 Area Super Production Series, and secured second in the 10 Heures Du Man race.  In 2004, Munson campaigned an Anchor Racing BMW M3 with James Sofronas in the Grand Am Cup Series, with one top five, and two top ten finishes.

Anchor Racing is dedicated to winning the Grand Am Cup Championship in the GS class.  The silver BMW M3s will be sporting their official team sponsors: Anchor Mortgage, Anchor Group, Anchor Development, and America’s Second Harvest.  Anchor Mortgage Corporation^SM  is a full-service mortgage banker/ broker for every type of real estate transaction, including purchases, refinancing, equity loans, second mortgages, foreclosures, debt consolidation and rehab loans. Their objective is to help you get the right loan at the best rate.  For more information on Anchor Racing, visit www.ANCHORRACING.com.