The Crittenden Automotive Library

Patrick Sheltra Optimistic Heading Into New Jersey

Topics: Patrick Sheltra, Loud Energy 150

Patrick Sheltra Optimistic Heading Into New Jersey

Chris Knight
Sheltra Motorsports
September 25, 2008

MILVILLE, New Jersey (September 25, 2008) - - Ready or not, ARCA’s return to a road course is here and Sheltra Motorsports driver Patrick Sheltra heads to Millville, New Jersey Motorsports Park this weekend for the running of the Loud Energy Drink 150.

And with Atlantic City just a half-hour away, Sheltra hopes his luck at the Casino will carry over to the 19th event on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series which steers the Indiantown, Florida native to his first ever road course.

“I keep telling myself I’m ready for New Jersey this weekend,” said Sheltra who finished 11th in the most recent ARCA RE/MAX Series event at Salem Speedway two weeks ago. “To be honest, I’m really excited about the race. I know that I’ll face some challenges but each race we’ve had this season has had one challenge or another and we’ll just have to put all the pieces together and look for a strong showing Sunday afternoon.”

Earlier this summer, Sheltra along with fellow ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Ken Butler III headed to Elkhart Lake , Wisconsin where the two veteran drivers participated in the Skip Barber Racing School at Road America with the drivers spending three days learning the logistics of road course racing and taking to the track for themselves. Sheltra already knows that the three-day course has paid off after spending Tuesday afternoon testing at NJMP behind the wheel of his No. 60 Ferguson Pipe-FloraGanics Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.

“I’m so glad I did the Skip Barber School ,” sounded Sheltra. “The tracks are actually a little similar and I remember a lot of what the school told me to do and I see it eye-to-eye not only in the rental car but in the race car as well. I know I’ll continue to get better with the more track time this weekend.”

Sheltra added, “The test went really well. I was happy. We received plenty of track time and the adjustments we made to the car during the test really helped the grip of the car to the track. You can tell it’s a new track, it has plenty of grip. I only went off the track once on Tuesday and I consider that pretty good, so I just need to remain focused and look ahead to conquering the bigger picture this weekend.”

To help dial in the team’s Sheltra Motorsports entry on Tuesday, veteran road racing driver instructor David Smith took the wheel of the team’s entry and provided feedback to both Sheltra and the team that should give them a bigger advantage heading into Friday’s activities.

“Dave was awfully nice to take the time to come over and talk to me and help us with the setup of the race,” explained Sheltra. “He told us we had a very good and stable car and pointed out to me what I can do as a driver to help pick up the pace a little bit. I know I’m not going to the fastest guy here but I’m confident with the help of the school and Tuesday’s session, we’re going to be solidly in the top-15.”

Looking ahead to the 19th race of the season, Sheltra remains focused on giving his Whitesville, Kentucky team their eighth top-10 finish of the season. “Anything can happen this weekend but I know we have a very good racecar,” noted Sheltra. “I’m proud of the boys on this team. They literally built this car from the ground up and it’s fast. My main goal this weekend is to stay on the track and bring home another top-10 finish for them and our marketing partners.”

Locking ninth in the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship standings and a mere 20 points from sixth place, Sheltra knows that a good run on Sunday will help propel to a career-best championship finish. “There are just three races left and we’re 20 points from sixth. Last year we finished seventh, so I’m gunning to beat that by one this year. This point’s battle is extremely tight. There is no room from error from sixth to 10th. Whoever plays it the smartest this weekend will walk away sixth in points and believe me, we’re hoping it’s us.”

Entering New Jersey, Sheltra has 43 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 Loud Energy Drink 150 (150 miles/67 laps) is the 19th of 21 events on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The first ARCA race ever at New Jersey Motorsports Park is a three-day show. Practice begins Friday September 26 with a half practice session planned from 1:10 p.m. - 1:40 p.m. A second round of practice begins at 3:00 p.m. and will conclude at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, a short half hour practice goes live at 10:05 a.m. ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying in groups is slated to begin at 2:15 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Sunday, September 28th shortly after 1:00 p.m. The event will be televised on MavTV and several television networks with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio courtesy of the ARCA Radio Network will be available online at arcaracing.com. All times are local.

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: 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

###

TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:

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