| Patrick Sheltra Enjoying Successful ARCA Season
“Sheltra Motorsports Team Still High On Second
Place At Toledo Speedway”
BROOKLYN, Michigan (May 28, 2008) - - ARCA RE/MAX Series
veteran Patrick Sheltra wasn't ready for a two week break,
especially after finishing second in last Sunday's Hantz
Group 200 by Federated Car Care at Toledo Speedway.
However, Sheltra is utilizing his down time to focus on
the remaining 14 ARCA RE/MAX Series events, which resume
with the first of two trips to Pocono Raceway Saturday,
June 7.
"We're feeling really good about our program,"
said Sheltra, who in seven races this season has earned
four top-10 finishes including the career-best runner-up
run at Toledo. "We told everyone at the end of last
year that we weren't coming to play this year. We've run
in the top-10 in all seven races this season. We may not
have finished in the top-10, but our cars have been there."
With top-10 finishes at Iowa Speedway, Kansas Speedway,
Kentucky Speedway and Toledo, Sheltra is very aware that
if not for his 34th finish at Rockingham (DNF/engine failure)
the team could be sitting much closer to the top of the
standings. As it is, the Indiantown, Florida driver is eighth
in points 150 away from leader Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
"There has been no room for error this year in ARCA
and that's forcing everyone to step up to the plate. Other
than the DNF, we've been very consistent. If we weren't
in the top-10, we were close (15th at Daytona and 11th at
Salem). Competition is tight, tighter than I think we've
ever seen in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. It's going to be great
publicity for the series but will be stressful on the teams.
I believe the championship will not be decided until we
come back to Toledo for the season finale in October."
Sheltra credits much of his early-season success to the
dedication of his Whitesville, Kentucky-based Sheltra Motorsports
team.
"John Hayden, Keith Strunk, Chris Wink, Eric Wettstain,
Bill Mares, Mike Royal, Shane Russelburg, Alex Timmerman,
Getty Cavitt and Chris Knight have all done their job this
year," explained Sheltra.
"John (Hayden) is my crew chief and our communication
is ten times better this year than last year. Working with
him and team manger Keith Strunk has been able to show the
knowledge and determination that we have here Sheltra Motorsports
team, and we've seen the results on track. The rest of the
team knows how important they are. It doesn't work without
them."
Sporting a mixture of Chevrolet Monte Carlos and Dodge
Chargers this season, Sheltra is excited to return to his
camouflage paint scheme and the Dodge Charger nameplate
for his third trip to Pocono.
"The success with Dodge this year has been overwhelming,"
Sheltra noted. "We debuted in Kansas with good results.
We went to Kentucky and had a shot to win the race. Now
we'll go to Pocono Raceway, a different track but with the
same attitude. We're taking a new car for the race. It's
a former Penske Racing Cup car that Ryan Newman drove."
Last season, Sheltra recoded finishes of 24th and 11th
at the tricky triangular 2.5-mile track. The good news for
Sheltra is that his performances have picked up at tracks
he has prior experience, and the 22-year old driver is hoping
the trend continues next month.
"It would be great to score our first win at Pocono.
Pocono Raceway is really a unique track but I love the racing
there. It challenges a driver and everyone knows that I'm
up for a challenge. It would be big, not only for me but
for my family, friends, fans, team and our marketing partners
to walk away with the trophy. I think a lot of people are
impressed with our program and have come to the realization
that we've become serious contenders on a weekly basis.
I really think we'll will win this year; it's just a matter
of time. I hope we can seal the deal at Pocono."
Sheltra to Test at Michigan
Before Sheltra and his Sheltra Motorsports team
head to Pocono Raceway, the team will participate in an
open-test at Michigan International Speedway next Wednesday,
May 28 to prepare for the event following Pocono, the Michigan
ARCA 200 set for Friday, June 13th. The MIS event will be
televised live on SPEED beginning at 5:00 p.m. EST.
Overall Sheltra has 32 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his
credit with a career best finish of second at Toledo Speedway
(May 2008). He has two additional top-five finishes (third)
at Illinois State Fairgrounds mile-dirt (August 2007) and
fourth at Berlin Raceway (July 2007). Other top-10 runs
include Kentucky Speedway (May 2008), Kansas Speedway (April
2008), Iowa Speedway (April 2008), Kentucky Speedway (June
2007), DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (September 2007) and Toledo
Speedway (October 2007). An eighth place qualifying run
at Kansas Speedway (April 2008) is Sheltra's best qualifying
effort to date.
For more on Patrick Sheltra, please visit the newly re-launched
PatrickSheltra.com.
About Sheltra Motorsports:
Sheltra Motorsports (sheltramotorsports.com)
is a three-tier Motorsports operation consisting of dirt
and asphalt competition. Patrick Sheltra, a 21-year old
native of Indiantown, Florida competes in the UMP and WoO
(Dirt) Series; while also running a full schedule in the
ARCA RE/MAX Series (No. 60) and a limited schedule in the
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (No. 35). Sheltra Motorsports
ownership is combined of Richard, Grace and Patrick Sheltra.
The team is headquartered in Indiantown, Florida with additional
operations in Richmond, Indiana and Whitesville, Kentucky.
Sheltra Motorsports Quick
Facts:
Team Name: Sheltra Motorsports, No. 60 Chevrolet
Monte Carlo SS
Driver: Patrick Sheltra, Indiantown, Florida
Car Owner: Grace Sheltra, Indiantown, Florida
Crew Chief: John Hayden
Team Manager: Keith Strunk
Marketing Partners: Ferguson Pipe Enterprises,
Inc, FloraGanics, American Concrete Industries, Inc, Hardie
Pipe, The Casite Company, J&S Bulk Transportation, Inc.,
US Construction Supply Corp., Martin County Petroleum, Sheltra
& Son Construction, Sheltra Cattle Company, Recycling
Services, Aaron’s Outdoors, Indiantown Marina, All
About Flowers, Speed Media, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants,
DMC Graphics and Purcell Tire & Rubber.
TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:
NAME: Chris Knight, Sheltra Motorsports
PHONE: 239.834.9797 or 830.261.1215
EMAIL: knight849@aol.com
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