Restrictor Plate Racing Up Next For Patrick Sheltra & Co.

Restrictor Plate Racing Up Next For Patrick Sheltra & Co.

Topics: Patrick Sheltra, ARCA RE/MAX 250

Restrictor Plate Racing Up Next For Patrick Sheltra & Co.

Chris Knight
Sheltra Motorsports
October 1, 2008

TALLADEGA, Alabama (October 1, 2008) - - The next-to-last race for the ARCA RE/MAX Series swings the tour to Talladega Superspeedway for the running of the ARCA RE/MAX 250 and for sophomore driver Patrick Sheltra, the 20th event on the 2008 ARCA schedule can’t come soon enough.

After a strong showing in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, the 22-year old Sheltra has been patiently waiting for his return to restrictor plate racing still vying for win number one in his second season of competition.

“I’m ready for Talladega ,” said Sheltra, who has one prior start at the 2.66-mile speedway coming last October. “Our restrictor plate program has improved immensely since last year and we’re bringing the same confidence we had at Daytona to Talladega with our eyes focused on winning.”

He continued, “Winning won’t be easy. It hasn’t been easy to win a race in the series this year. It’s just been that tough. The good news is that at Talladega , realistically no one has an advantage and everyone is in the same boat. We have a strong car and a great motor, so I’m looking forward to the race.”

Another reason that the dirt ace is excited about Friday’s event is the team will be hosting a new marketing partner for the annual fall trip to Talladega . Earlier this week, Sheltra Motorsports announced that Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. has latched themselves aboard the second year team for Friday’s anticipated thriller.

Located in the heart of Okeechobee , Florida , Quality Turf serves their customers with pride and presence. From landscaping to sod to even irrigation installation, Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. can meet your every outdoor need for an affordable price. Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. services the Florida counties of Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin and Palm Beach .

“I tell you what Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. could not of picked a better race to be apart of the Sheltra Motorsports team,” sounded Sheltra, who sits seventh in championship points with just one event remaining following Friday’s event. “ Talladega has always been a favorite of many teams, drivers and marketing partners and this week’s race should continue that trend. Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. is bringing a lot of guests to the race and we hope to be able to deliver them a victory Friday afternoon.”

After two-second place finishes this year, Sheltra knows that his Whitesville, Kentucky team is close to capturing their first checkered flag and with restrictor plate racing continue to bring the field closer each year, the Sheltra Motorsports team participated in the open-test at the Alabama race facility last month with satisfying results.

“I’m real happy with the outcome of the test,” noted Sheltra, who will compete in two NASCAR Nationwide Series events following the conclusion of the ARCA RE/MAX Series season. “We spent a day and a half trying a lot of different setups and changes. I think we found something on the second day that will prove to be beneficial for race day.”

Crew Chief John Hayden has elected to bring back the same Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS the team finished 15th with in the ARCA 200 at Daytona in February. The piece acquired from Richard Childress Racing (RCR) was formerly driven by 2007 Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick.

“We have a good piece for Dega,” commented Sheltra. “Everyone saw what the car was capable of at Daytona and it’s capable of running up front again. Obviously, the key to success at Talladega is staying in line and out of the big one. We’ve been fortunate to miss the big ones in my last two restrictor plate events and I surely learned my lesson about ducking out of line from my experience at Talladega last year. The bottom line is we’re going to race smart and that should reward us in the ARCA RE/MAX 250.”

Climbing from ninth to seventh in the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship standings following his impressive 11th place road course debut last Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park , Sheltra sits just 15 points from sixth and a 15 marker cushion on eighth place runner John Wes Townley. With 35 credits separating sixth through 10th in the championship rundown, Sheltra is well-aware the importance of finishing well in Friday’s event.

“It wasn’t this tight last year,” he recalled. “There is zero room for error this weekend. A good run can propel us to sixth and a not so good run could slide us back to 10th. We have to stay positive and just do our job and the points should work themselves out. I’m really proud of the guys. They’ve done their job all year long, so my personal goal for them this weekend is to walk away sixth in the standings heading to Toledo .”

Entering Talladega, Sheltra has 44 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his credit with a career best finish of second at Toledo Speedway (May 2008) and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (September 2008) with two additional top-five finishes (third) at Illinois State Fairgrounds (August 2007), (fourth) at Berlin Raceway (July 2007) while holding additional top-10s at Nashville Superspeedway (August 2008), Michigan International Speedway (June 2008), 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 effort at Kansas Speedway (April 2008) is Sheltra’s best time trials efforts to date. He has controlled the ARCA field twice for 15 laps.

The ARCA RE/MAX 250 (250 miles/94 laps) is the 20th of 21 events on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The 46th trip to Talladega is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, October 2 with a two and a half hour practice session planned from 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. A final fifty minute practice begins at 10:00 a.m. on race day with the field taking the green flag on Friday, October 3 shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will air live on SPEED beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Additional race coverage including live timing and scoring will be available online at arcaracing.com. All times are local.

To learn more about Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc., please contact Corey Kirton at 863.634.7140.

For more on Patrick Sheltra, please visit PatrickSheltra.com.

About Sheltra Motorsports:

Sheltra Motorsports (sheltramotorsports.com) is a three-tier Motorsports operation consisting of dirt and asphalt competition. Patrick Sheltra, a 22-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 NASCAR. 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

Marketing Partners: Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc, Groupe Beton Brunet, Ferguson Pipe Enterprises, Inc, FloraGanics, American Concrete Industries, Inc, The Casite Company, J&S Bulk Transportation, Inc., US Construction Supply Corp., CP Concrete Products of the Palm Beaches, Sheltra & Son Construction, Sheltra Cattle Company, Recycling Services, Aaron’s Outdoors, Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant, Indiantown Marina, All About Flowers, Speed Media, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, DMC Graphics and Purcell Tire & Rubber.

Crew Chief: John Hayden

Director of Competition: Larry Moore

Team Manager: Keith Strunk

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TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Sheltra Motorsports
PHONE: 239.834.9797 or 239.214.1083
EMAIL: chris@patricksheltra.com