Bryan Silas & Company Encouraged By Daytona Performance

Topics:  Bryan Silas, ARCA 200 at Daytona

Chris Knight
Fast Track Racing
February 15, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 15, 2008) - - Even with the unfortunate finish, ARCA RE/MAX Series sophomore driver Bryan Silas of Stuart, Florida has no doubt in his mind that he'll put his Fast Track Racing team back in the top-10, especially after his noteworthy performance in last Saturday's ARCA 200 at Daytona.

After practicing very strong and qualifying mid-pack, Silas was excited about making his second career ARCA start at Daytona International Speedway. Another reason Silas was feeling a sense of excitement came in the optimism and guidance from new crew chief Jeff McClure.

Silas will be the first to tell anyone that since McClure joined the team during the off-season he has become a more confident driver. McClure reassured his driver before the start of the 45th annual ARCA 200 that he had a strong machine and just needed to show patience.

Silas showed plenty of patience while much of the field did the exact opposite.

Early on in the event, Silas immediately drafted his No. 11 Nortrax-ICI Homes Ford Fusion into the top-12 and that’s where he stayed for much of the event’s first quarter. A caution on the front-stretch on lap 24 brought the 20-year old young gun to pit road to the attention of McClure and the Fast Track Racing bunch. The stop was routine with Silas emerging back onto the pack comfortably in the top-20.

On the restart, Silas was in a heavy draft including Brian Scott, Gabi DiCarlo and Patrick Sheltra when smoke billowed out ahead of him. Trying to escape the carnage of the second and third place competitors making contact, Silas cleared most of the 16-car pileup only to be collected emerging from the smoke which would send the No. 11 hard into the wall.

A mangled Nortrax-ICI Homes Ford Fusion would head back to pit road and make the hard left turn to the garage. The Fast Track Racing team found the damage beyond repair forcing an early exit from the ARCA 200 at Daytona.

Silas would be credited with a 36th place finish.

“You know I’m not really happy with the outcome of the race, but we had a heck of a Nortrax-ICI Homes Ford Fusion,” Silas noted. “The entire Fast Track Racing team did an absolutely awesome job. The open tests at Daytona and Talladega paid off. We struggled a little with our restrictor plate program last year and even though we weren’t around for the entire 80 laps, I feel more comfortable going into Talladega at the end of the year knowing what we accomplished in Daytona.”

Silas, who will spend the 2008 season competing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup Series continued, “I’m telling you that our Fast Track Racing team has the potential to really shine this year. The changes we made during the off-season will reflect on the track in the upcoming races,” Silas explained.

“Jeff brings a whole new atmosphere and his likeable attitude spreads like a virus. I’ve learned a lot from him and I know talking with the guys in the shop, they’ve learned things that have helped make them better. It’s a good feeling all the way around.”

Silas concluded, “We have a pretty nice break between now and Salem . We’re going to take that down time and do some testing and make sure when we unload at Salem that we’re near the top of the charts. It’s absolutely my favorite track on the schedule and I’m literally counting down the days!”

Leaving Daytona, Silas has 30 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his credit with a career best finish of eighth at Salem Speedway (April 2007) and Kentucky Speedway (July 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 seventh at Berlin Raceway (July 2007). A fourth place qualifying effort at Pocono Raceway (June 2007) is Silas's best speedway run to date. He has controlled the ARCA field for 23 laps in two races.

For more on Bryan Silas please visit, BryanSilasRacing.com

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