Kentucky:  Patrick Sheltra ARCA RE/MAX Series Race- Preview

patricksheltra.com

May 08, 2008

Rockingham Recap: For the first time this season, Sheltra Motorsports finished outside the top-15 in Carolina 500K at Rockingham Speedway. After qualifying a solid 12th, Sheltra hustled into the top-10 before being collected in a incident on lap 11. The team rebounded with Sheltra charging back into the top-10 before an engine failure on lap 200 relegated the team to a 34th place finish.

Sunny but Soggy?: Sheltra Motorsports attempted to participate in an open-test at Kentucky Speedway and while Mother Nature greeted the teams with crystal blue skies, the teams were plagued from on-track activity after major seepage issues forced the cancellation of the fourth open-test session of the season.

Kentucky Speedway, A Special Place: For rising star Patrick Sheltra, the return trip to Kentucky Speedway this speedway will remind him to rewind back to last May’s Buckle-Up Kentucky 150. After qualifying 23rd, Sheltra showed patience and determination to record his first career top-10 (ninth) finish in ARCA RE/MAX Series competition in only his 10th career ARCA start.

Last Time Out: The last time 21-year old Patrick Sheltra maneuvered a Dodge Charger it yielded stellar results. After practicing in the top-10 for much of the session at Kansas Speedway last month, Sheltra backed it up with a superb and career best qualifying effort of eighth before bolting into the lead for four laps. Sheltra eventually finished eighth, a 2008 season best.

It’s All About You, Mom: After competing in his third career race at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night, Patrick Sheltra will spend Sunday with his mother Grace Sheltra celebrating the importance of Mother’s Day. Grace Sheltra is one of six female car owners and mothers that compete on a regular basis in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.

Double Dose: In addition to running the ARCA RE/MAX Series event at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night, Patrick Sheltra will return to his racing roots and participate in a dirt track showdown at Union County Speedway in Liberty, Indiana on Friday, May 9. Sheltra has stormed into victory lane three previous times at the demanding dirt track behind the wheel of the No. 23 Sheltra Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo. 

Watcha Haulin?: Crew Chief John Hayden has elected to bring Sheltra chassis number 12 to Kentucky Speedway this weekend. The primary machine is the same Dodge Charger that Sheltra maneuvered in the open-test and race at Kansas Speedway last month. Chassis number 15 will serve as the team’s back-up automobile. The team has yet to run that Dodge Charger in RE/MAX Series competition this year. 

Point Standings: After round five on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule, Patrick Sheltra sits seventh in the championship standings accumulating 1,020 points. Sheltra is only 95 markers from moving into the fifth position currently held by SunTrust Rookie-of-the-Year candidate John Wes Townley. 210 credits separate Sheltra from the points lead held by SunTrust Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Matt Carter.

Looking Ahead: In addition to a full ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule, Sheltra Motorsports and driver Patrick Sheltra will also compete in a limited dirt late model schedule (UMP and WoO) while also advancing Sheltra’s asphalt career by launching a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (No. 35) career later this year.

Sheltra Motorsports, Kentucky Speedway Pre-Race Quotes:
Patrick Sheltra, driver of the No. 60 Ferguson Pipe Enterprises-FloraGanics Dodge:

On Rockingham: “We had a great car, just didn’t have a good finish. We were able to recover from being involved in the first wreck of the day but the motor expired 112 laps from the finish. On the other hand, I’m happy for Andy Hillenburg and his staff for the outcome of a successful ARCA event.”

On Kentucky Speedway: “Last May we had a good run here, there’s no reason to doubt that we won’t this weekend. We’re bringing a good car and plenty of horsepower, so I have a good feeling that we’ll be able to beat our ninth place run from last year.”

On Chassis Number 12: “It’s a very strong piece. We acquired it from Penske Racing and I see why it’s a car that they ran very often. We weren’t 100 percent sure what to expect in our first race at Kansas but I believe we turned a lot of heads. We stated that our mile-and-a-half program was going to be strong and we hope to continue that statement Saturday night.”

Sheltra Motorsports, Rockingham Speedway Pre-Race Quotes:
Grace Sheltra, owner of the No. 60 Ferguson Pipe Enterprises-FloraGanics Dodge:

On Kentucky: “After our stout run in Kansas, the Sheltra Motorsports team is looking forward to Kentucky. We feel that this is a race that Patrick is capable of running up front and getting his first win.”

On The Sheltra Motorsports Bunch: “This is a home-town race for those guys, so I want nothing but the best for them. They have really poured a lot of time and effort into our program and it has showed this weekend. I know they are not going to give any less than 150 percent and as an owner that’s all I can ask for.”