After Iowa Performance; Silas Eager For Pocono

Topics:  Bryan Silas, Pocono 200

Chris Knight
Fast Track Racing
June 6, 2007

“Strong Showing At Iowa Turns Heads Approaching Pocono ”

LONG POND, PA (June 6, 2007) - - ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Bryan Silas had his best outing of the year at Iowa Speedway last Saturday night, unfortunately, the finish didn’t just the performance as the Fast Track Racing (FTR) development driver reeled in a 13th place finish after spending much of the first half of the event locked in the top-five. Time for a rematch, well sort of.

With Iowa in the rear-view mirror, Silas hopes to solider on to Pocono Raceway this weekend for the first of two trips for the avid racecar driver and complete the team’s performance in Saturday’s ARCA 200.

“I think everyone knew we were alive last weekend,” said Silas. “We really had a good car. We were strong from the time we unloaded; we just couldn’t piece the puzzle together. We had a minor mechanical malfunction take us from the hunt. Nothing we can do about Iowa , but we can head to Pocono with the same confidence and the strong feelings of our last few performances. I think it gave the team some energy and raised the bar a little bit and that’s good for everyone heading into Saturday’s race.”

Called one of the nicest drivers in the ARCA garage, Silas heads to Pocono Raceway with no experience but a ton of knowledge surrounding him. Car owner and former ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Andy Hillenburg nearly won the race in 2005 with former rookie Chad McCumbee behind the wheel.

Now, Silas hopes Hillenburg will continue his Pocono magic and bring him to a career best finish in the 10th race of the ’07 season.

“Andy is smart,” offered Silas. “He knows what you got to have and he tries to bring that to everyone driver he surrounds himself around. He tells me we are going to be okay this weekend and I believe him.”

When asked about his rookie season on the ARS tour, Silas noted, “It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve had our moments of trial and tribulation but it’s our rookie season and we’ve only been together for 12 races including the two from 2006. I think as a team we’ve grown and we’re continuing to get better. The last two races at Toledo and Iowa are perfect examples on how this team has really stepped up to the plate and I don’t expect anything different this weekend.”

Also in the last two races, Silas has increasingly closed the gap between himself and ninth place points competitor Patrick Sheltra. Sheltra, also a Floridian only stands 30 markers from being overtaken by Silas.

“We had some ground to make up these last couple of races with our points positions,” added Silas. “Thanks to good setups and hard work during the race, we’ve been able to collect enough points to really have a legitimate shot at walking away from Pocono solidly inside the top-10 in the championship standings.”

While the top-10 is his goal this season, Silas doesn’t consider a top-five finish out of the picture either. “A few good races for us and some bad luck for others could be the fortunate we need. I’ve heard about rookies drivers really make a charge in the second half of the season, we hope to continue that legacy this year,” Silas sounded.

Nortrax, Shell Rotella T, Holland Pump and Palm Beach Grading (PBG) will all sponsor the No. 11 Chevrolet in the 44th ARS event held at Pocono Raceway.

“Our sponsors are excited about Pocono Raceway especially after our run at Iowa Speedway. You can’t say enough about your sponsors. You want to give them everything they deserve and I really think we need that last weekend and we’re planning on giving even more on Saturday afternoon,” Silas concluded.

Heading into Pocono, Silas has 15 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his credit with a career best finish of eighth at Salem Speedway (April 2007) while holding an additional top-10 performance at USA International Speedway (March 2007). He holds a career best short track time trials effort of eighth at Berlin Raceway and Iowa Speedway (July 2006 and June 2007). A 16th place qualifying effort at Kansas Speedway (April 2007) and Talladega Superspeedway (October 2006) is Silas’s best speedway run to date.

The Pocono 200 (80 laps/200 miles) is the 10th of 23 events on the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. Practice begins Friday, June 8 with a one hour forty five minute (10:15am-11:55am Local Time) session planned. ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying is slated for later in the afternoon at 1:45pm Local Time. The event will take the green flag on Saturday at 1:00pm Local Time. The race will be taped-delayed and aired on SPEED at 8:00pm Local Time. Additional race coverage is available online at arcaracing.com

For more on Bryan Silas please visit, BryanSilasRacing.com

Visit Fast Track Racing on the web at, FastTrackRacing.com

BRYAN SILAS POCONO QUICK FACTS:

2007 Stats

Starts: Nine

Best Start: Eighth at Iowa Speedway , June 2007

Top-Fives: None

Top-10s: Two (10th at USA International Speedway and Eighth at Salem Speedway .)

Did Not Finish (DNFs): One ( Nashville Superspeedway)

Laps Led: None

Notes of Interest:

Silas will have a teammate this weekend at Pocono Raceway. Chad McCumbee, a regular competitor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to ARCA competition on Saturday. McCumbee scored his first ARCA RE/MAX Series victory this season at Nashville Superspeedway behind the wheel of the No. 62 Palm Beach Grading (PBG) Chevrolet.

Silas sits third in the ARCA RE/MAX Series Rookie-of-the-Year standings trailing Phillip McGilton and Michael McDowell respectively. 24 points keeps Silas from the top-spot.

Off the track, Silas enjoys playing the drums and competing in his late model.

Next weekend Silas will return to double-duty status at Michigan International Speedway on June 15 and 16. Silas will run his ARCA RE/MAX Series No. 11 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the ARCA 200 while attempting to make his third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) start of the season behind the wheel of the No. 71 Fast Track High Performance Driving School Chevrolet Silverado.

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NOTE TO MEDIA: Team Photos Available Upon Request

MEDIA CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Fast Track Racing
PHONE: 239.834.9797
EMAIL: knight849@aol.com