Patrick Sheltra, No. 60 ARCA RE/MAX Series Pocono Pennsylvania 200 Fast Facts |
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Topics: Patrick Sheltra, Pennsylvania 200
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Chris Knight
Sheltra Motorsports
July 31, 2008
Patrick Sheltra, No. 60 Ferguson Pipe Enterprises-FloraGanics Dodge Charger; Pennsylvania 200 Fast Facts
ARCA RE/MAX Series Race No. 13, Pennsylvania 200 Pocono Raceway, Long, Pond, Pennsylvania
Race Information: Event: Pennsylvania 200, Saturday, August 2, at 1:00 p.m. Local Time Track: Pocono Raceway Qualifying: Friday, August 1, at 1:45 p.m. Local Time; Track Length: 2.5-mile paved-triangle.
Berlin Raceway Recap: After finishing a then career best fourth in his inaugural debut at Berlin Raceway in 2007, Sheltra Motorsports and driver Patrick Sheltra returned to the Marne, Michigan track looking for a repeat performance. The weekend started off on the right foot with Sheltra recording his career-best short track qualifying effort of eighth but Sheltra’s night would come to an early end after Sheltra experienced overheating issues which resulted in a 26th place finish.
Returning To Long Pond: For the fifth time in his ARCA RE/MAX Series career, Patrick Sheltra returns to Pocono Raceway looking to muster his sixth top-10 finish of the season in 13 races. Previously at the 2.5-mile speedway, Sheltra recorded a disappointing 33rd place finish after running in the top-five when the engine seized on the team’s No. 60 Dodge Charger. In this event last year Sheltra amassed a Pocono career best finish of 11th after qualifying ninth.
Coming Back For A Second Taste: After attending the Motorsports 2008 show in Atlantic City, New Jersey earlier this year, Patrick Sheltra watched Tiffany Skias become crowned Ms. Motorsports 2008. Now, Sheltra Motorsports has invited Skias for a second time this season to attend the Pennsylvania 200 as their special guest. Skias, a 270 micro sprint car driver was crowned Ms. Motorsports in her first year of competition. The 19-year old Wernersville, Pennsylvania native is a third generation driver. For more information on Skias, please connect to her web site at ms-motorsport.myvnc.com.
Getting Used To Turning Right And Left: Before hoping a plane and heading to Pocono Raceway, ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Patrick Sheltra along with fellow competitor Ken Butler III spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday participating in the Skip Barber Driving School at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The two veteran drivers utilized the Mazda built cars to prepare themselves for ARCA’s return to the road course at New Jersey Motorsports Park in September. Sheltra will return to another course at Skip Barber in mid-September at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut.
Are You Up For The Challenge?: Sheltra Motorsports Public Relations Representative Chris Knight has challenged other members in the ARCA community to donate $1.00 a mile to support ARCA chaplain Bill Krick who is resting comfortably at home in North Carolina after successfully recovering from open-heart surgery last week. Knight hopes to donate a minimum of $200.00 out of his own personal pocket for Saturday’s race. Should the Pennsylvania 200 extend into overtime, Knight will donate $2.00 for every mile completed until Sheltra takes the checkered flag. If Sheltra is able to capture his first career ARCA RE/MAX Series victory Saturday, Knight, a longtime Motorsports Public Relations Representative will throw in an additional $200.00 bonus.
Keeping Busy: From Pocono Raceway, Patrick Sheltra will head to Richmond, Indiana where he will spend several nights next week competing behind the wheel of his No. 23 Sheltra Motorsports dirt late model throughout the state of Indiana before making the trip to Nashville Superspeedway for round number 14 on the ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule, the TOYOTA ARCA 150 set for Saturday, August 9th.
Nice Stat: Officially halfway through the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series, Sheltra Motorsports has fielded a car for Patrick Sheltra that has run in the top-10 for all 12 events thus far this season. The team has amassed one top-five with a runner-up at Toledo Speedway while holding four additional top-10 finishes. The team’s season best qualifying effort came at Kansas Speedway where Sheltra awarded himself with a career best run of eighth. Last weekend, Sheltra recorded his career best short track qualifying run of eighth. The team has led two races at Kansas Speedway and Cayuga Motor Speedway for a total of 15 laps.
Join The Fan Club: Sheltra Motorsports has launched a Patrick Sheltra Fan Club and it’s absolutely free! Race fans can log onto to PatrickSheltra.com and fill out the form and you’re an immediate member. Receive press releases, autograph cards, a chance to come to a race and much more!
Watcha Haulin?: Crew Chief John Hayden has elected to bring Sheltra chassis number 11 to Pocono Raceway this weekend. This is the same chassis that Sheltra Motorsports participated with in the Pocono 200 at Pocono Raceway in June. Chassis number 11 was acquired from Penske Racing and driver Ryan Newman during the off season. Chassis number 15 will serve as the team’s back-up automobile. The team ran that model at the open ARCA RE/MAX Series test and race at Michigan International Speedway in June.
Point Standings: After round 12 on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule, Patrick Sheltra sits 10th in the championship standings accumulating 2,245 points. Sheltra is 370 markers from moving into the fifth position currently held by ARCA veteran Justin Allgaier. 610 credits separate Sheltra from the points lead held by SunTrust Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
Sheltra Motorsports, Pocono Raceway Pre-Race Quotes: Patrick Sheltra, driver of the No. 60 Ferguson Pipe Enterprises-FloraGanics Dodge:
On Berlin: “Everyone was disappointed with the outcome of Berlin Raceway last weekend because we thought we really had a chance to end up in victory lane but it wasn’t meant to be. We just want to thank Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant for coming onboard and hope we can make the finish up to them in another race.”
On Pocono: “I have a good feeling about this weekend. Hopefully I am right. We had a good strong car here in the spring but got sidelined with engine failure. I think we’ll have a better motor this weekend and hopefully we can put our season back on track with a good run Saturday afternoon.”
On The Race Not Being Televised: “Really is unfortunate. I feel this is one of the best races of the year and for there to be zero television coverage will hurt everyone across the board. Thankfully, ARCA is stepping in and doing the best they can with the radio broadcast but still has the same ill effects for the viewers who can’t log on. We’ll be back to television coverage next weekend at Nashville and that will be a bright spot for everyone.”
On The Skip Barber Racing School: “Man, I had a blast. It was extremely beneficial to me and I know that the experience will pay off when we go to New Jersey Motorsports Park in September. I’m looking forward to doing the other school before hammering down for the real thing a week later.”
Sheltra Motorsports, Pocono Raceway Pre-Race Quotes: Grace Sheltra, owner of the No. 60 Ferguson Pipe Enterprises-FloraGanics Dodge:
On Berlin: “We had a very good car at Berlin and just continued to have crappy luck. Hopefully that was our last bad race of the season. We have some really good race tracks coming up and we look to make some noise there.”
On Returning To Pocono Raceway: “Pocono is a very demanding track. Patrick has had some ups and downs there but we are confident we can bounce back from our performance there in June and have a good afternoon. There will be some stiff competition there but we are ready for anything that is presented to us. Look for our camouflage No. 60 Dodge Charger up front!”
PRIOR RESULTS:
Patrick Sheltra, Pocono Raceway Prior ARCA Race Results:
Date Event Start Finish Laps Status 06/06 Pocono 200 21 22 81/88 Accident 06/07 Pocono 200 15 24 78/80 Running 08/07 Pennsylvania 200 9 11 80/80 Running 06/08 Pocono 200 15 33 34/88 Engine