Daytona, Florida, USA - February 4, 2005 - Justin Marks started the season off right with the fastest GS class qualifying time for today’s Grand Am Cup race at Daytona Speedway in Florida. Marks will co-drive with Bill Auberlen in the #96 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs/CROCS BMW M3. Another Turner Motorsport BMW will be starting on the front row in the ST class as Tim Pappas qualified in second position in his #97 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs BMW 330i. Don Salama in the #95 BMW 330i will start from the fourth spot.



Justin Marks, #96 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs/CROCS BMW M3:

"I got lucky with the air today. It's all about the draft here at Daytona. With these long straightaways, you can be struggling for grip and still have a car that can contend for the pole if you get the draft at the right time. I was able to time a gap right, and the draft just worked huge for us. My co-driver (Bill Auberlen) has a lot of experience driving these cars, and I think that's going to help us, strategy-wise. We have a lot of tools at our disposal to be able to make a strong run for the championship. It's an awesome operation. The team did an awesome job. They have a lot of experience building these M3s."



Tim Pappas, #97 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs BMW 330i:

“The car was working really well the whole day during each practice session. We were right up there in the top three with our teammates in the other 330i. All that’s left to do now is move up just one more spot and stay there to take the checkered flag.”



Last year, the Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs BMWs finished in second and fourth in the ST class.



Today’s opening round of the Grand Am Cup season will roll off at 2:15pm for 3 hours/200 miles.

Click here to see this session's official results

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