Sheltra Motorsports Full-Steam Ahead For 2008 ARCA Season

Topics:  Patrick Sheltra

Chris Knight
Sheltra Motorsports
December 8, 2007

“Sheltra Motorsports Also Announces Limited NCTS Bid”

COVINGTON, Kentucky (December 8, 2007) - - Sheltra Motorsports officially announced today at the ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) Championship Awards Banquet Press Conference exercises that the Kentucky-based operation will return for a full championship effort next season with sophomore-bound and rising star Patrick Sheltra continuing to pilot the team’s familiar No. 60 entry.

The team is stepping up their program from their inaugural year of competition including adding new marketing partners, personnel and equipment with the intent to be in contention for the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series championship.

Keith Strunk will return to the Sheltra Motorsports organization as team manger with veteran and former ARCA driver John Hayden serving as crew chief next year. The team also welcomes Kevin Huffine who joins the team as a full-time spotter and shock specialist. Last month, the team announced the addition of Chris Knight to its Pubic Relations department.

Sheltra Motorsports furthermore announced a number of brand new marketing partners for the 2008 racing season. Ferguson Pipe Enterprises, Inc, American Concrete Industries, Inc, Hardie Pipe, Indiantown Marina, Drug Discovery Testing (DDT), All About Flowers, Speed Media and Casite Products will all sport their logos in 2008. Additionally, FloraGanics, J&S Bulk Transportation, Inc., Martin County Petroleum and SawHorse Outfitters are all returning from the 2007 season.

“We are extremely excited about the direction of our team,” said driver Patrick Sheltra. “We have worked hard since the conclusion of the 2007 season to make sure that next year is an unforgettable year for our team and I feel with the support of our new and existing marketing partners we’re off to a great start to make the 2008 season a memorable one.”

In addition, Sheltra Motorsports also announced that the team will run two manufacturers throughout the course of the 21-ARCA RE/MAX Series race schedule next year. The team will spend the season running the Chevrolet and Dodge banners with Chevrolet taking precedence at the superspeedway (Daytona and Talladega) and short track events and the Dodge hosting it’s presence at all remaining races. The team purchased the Dodges from North Carolina based Penske Racing South. Clements Automotive Engineering will continue to provide the horsepower from the team’s Chevrolet bowtie. The team is zeroing in on an organization to field the Dodge steam with the announcement expected to come next month.

“We were exploring all of our opportunities as far as manufacturers were concerned for next year,” added Sheltra. “After carefully reviewing all of our options we felt that it was in the best interest in Sheltra Motorsports to team with both Chevrolet and Dodge in 2008. We have some very strong Chevrolets in our fleet and the Dodge’s we’ve acquired have proven to be a great asset to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour, which we feel, will make a positive transition over to the ARCA RE/MAX Series as well. The changes we’ve made to the team are to enhance our program and I feel that by adding another manufacturer to our stable will make that a reality. The Dodges showed incredible ARCA strength last season and we don’t expect any less in next year.”

To go along with the switch to Dodge, the team also unveiled at the ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Awards Banquet Press Conference a new paint scheme that the team will run in several events in 2008. The new scheme designed between the team and Speed Media based out of Michigan carries the camouflage look adapted from Sheltra’s dirt car, which he will also run on a limited basis in 2008.

“The scheme is something different for 2008,” sounded Sheltra. “It’s something we talked about during the 2007 season and this new scheme is great and will look awesome especially under the lights at some of the bigger tracks next year. We know the other scheme (bright green) was popular and that’s not going anywhere, but this is something that we feel that the fans will enjoy next year in ARCA.”

Sheltra Motorsports also announced today that the ARCA RE/MAX Series will not be the only racing sanction that they will be competing in next year. Additionally, the team will run a limited schedule in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after purchasing equipment from Billy Ballew Motorsports (BBM), a two-time winning affiliation this year. The two organizations met at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November. Sheltra, who made his NCTS debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway in October, will announce his 2008 NCTS schedule early next year.

“While we know we have the capabilities of running strong in ARCA, the goal is to advance myself and our program to NASCAR. It’s definitely on the horizon. Our new alliance with Billy Ballew Motorsports will pay dividends next year and we’re excited about the future. It’s going to be a busy year for us, but we’re looking forward to it,” Sheltra noted.

Finally, Sheltra Motorsports also introduced the Patrick Sheltra Foundation. The Foundation started by the 21-year old driver will thrive to bring recognition to local hospitals surrounding the 21-race ARCA schedule next year. Hoping to implant the smile of a child, the Patrick Sheltra Foundation will join forces with the Shriner’s Hospital for Children and the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital with Sheltra visiting the hospitals prior to his duties at the racetrack. Sheltra will visit and spend time with the children while also hosting benefits throughout the year with the proceeds going to the hospitals through the Patrick Sheltra Foundation.

“I’m very excited about the foundation. It’s something that we’ve topped off the season with and while it’s going to be a hectic schedule, brightening a child’s day just makes it all worth wile. We’re hoping to have the support of other drivers and teams throughout the year as we plan to make an impact,” Sheltra concluded.

Stay tuned for a revamped website, but in the meantime for more on Patrick Sheltra, please visit PatrickSheltra.com

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MEDIA CONTACT:
NAME: Chris Knight, Sheltra Motorsports
PHONE: 239.834.9797
EMAIL: Knight849@aol.com