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Patrick Sheltra Eager For Kentucky Speedway Rematch

Topics: Patrick Sheltra, Kentucky ARCA RE/MAX 150

Patrick Sheltra Eager For Kentucky Speedway Rematch

Chris Knight
Sheltra Motorsports
July 14, 2008

“Indiantown, Florida Native Looking For Inaugural Victory Friday Night”

SPARTA, Kentucky (July 14, 2008) - - After a little rest and relaxation, ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) sophomore driver Patrick Sheltra will gear up for round number 11 on the 2008 schedule when the green flag waives at Kentucky Speedway Friday night for the running of the Kentucky ARCA RE/MAX 150.

And if Sheltra Motorsports May Kentucky Speedway performance is any indication, the team will likely return to the front at the historic 1.5-mile oval and look for win number one in the No. 60 Groupe Beton Brunet-Ferguson Pipe-FloraGanics Dodge Charger.

“I’m ready for Kentucky,” said Sheltra who spent his downtime in Dryden, Texas, a city with a dense population of 11. “We had a real good run in May but the extended cautions hurt a lot of teams including us. That was then and this is now. I’m ready to win and Kentucky would be a great place to do it at.”

Rewinding back to ARCA’s 16th appearance at Kentucky Speedway, fans enjoyed a solid and competitive race but a late race caution would set up for a green-white-checkered finish. Cautions would continue to fly sending the race into overtime. Already close on fuel mileage, the extended laps would wreak havoc on the Sheltra Motorsports team as Sheltra had to relinquish a solid fourth place effort to pit for four tires and fuel. On the final run of the night, Sheltra was on a mission and marched from his restarting position of 15th to maneuver his camouflage Dodge Charger to an impressive seventh on the final lap. It was at that time, Sheltra’s best performance of the year.

“Kentucky Speedway always provides great racing and the race in May was no exception,” remembered Sheltra. “I expect the same type of competition this weekend.”

Sheltra Motorsports located just two and a half hours from Kentucky Speedway in the small town of Whitesville, Kentucky elected not to participate in the recent open test at the Sparta, Kentucky based facility and Sheltra is confident his team won’t miss a beat.

“I’m not worried at all,” commented Sheltra on the decision to skip the open test. “We know what our car will do during the day and night. The Sheltra Motorsports bunch has worked their tails off to make sure our Dodge Charger is ready to go.”

Crew Chief John Hayden has elected to bring Sheltra Motorsports chassis number 12 to Kentucky Speedway this weekend. This is the same automobile that Sheltra steered in the Drive Smart! Buckle Up Kentucky 150 to a solid seventh place finish. Chassis number 11 will serve as the team’s back-up automobile. This is the same piece that the Whitesville, Kentucky based team competed with at Pocono Raceway in June.

“Our Dodge program has been strong. Other than Pocono where we lost a motor, we’ve run in the top-10. The car we’re bringing back this weekend has sat on jack stands since the May race and we haven’t touched it until a few weeks ago. The car really planted good to the track here in May and we’re hoping it will do the same Friday night.”

For the second consecutive event, Groupe Beton Brunet will return with Sheltra as the primary marketing partner for the Kentucky ARCA RE/MAX 150.

Groupe (pronounced Group) Beton (pronounced Be-Ton) Brunet (pronounced Brew-Nay) has more than 75 years experience in the underground/infrastructure industry throughout Eastern Canada. Groupe Beton Brunet grown substantially in adding (7) new acquisitions and various product lines. Groupe Beton Brunet has expanded their markets to include the United States with a plant located in Florida.

“We’re super excited to have Groupe Beton Brunet back on board for Kentucky. This is a completely different venue for them, so we’re looking forward to running up front and putting their name out there even more.”

Locking ninth in the championship standings with 10 events remaining on the 2008 calendar, 130 markers separate Sheltra from entering the top-five in the championship chase and the 22-year old superstar knows that a stellar run Friday night will keep the team’s championship chase alive.

“Point’s have been the name of the game this season,” sounded Sheltra. “We’ve only had two finishes outside the top-20 and we’re ninth in points. That just tells you what kind of season it has been this year. We have to raise the bar another notch during the second-half and collect some points.”

Entering Kentucky, Sheltra has 35 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his credit with a career best finish of second at Toledo Speedway (May 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 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 Kentucky ARCA RE/MAX 150 (150 miles/100 laps) is the 11th of 21 events on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The 17th ARCA race at Kentucky Speedway is a one-day show. Practice begins Friday July 18 with a two hour and fifteen minute practice session planned from 11:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. with live television coverage on SPEED. The field will take the green flag later that evening shortly after 8:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring available online at arcaracing.com. All times are local.

For more on Patrick Sheltra, please visit the newly re-launched 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 .

Patrick Sheltra, Sheltra Motorsports, Kentucky Speedway Notes of Interest: · Sheltra Motorsports will run a mixture of Dodge Chargers and Chevrolet Monte Carlos Chevrolet during the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series season. For Kentucky, Sheltra Motorsports will run a Dodge Charger that will make its second ARCA appearance Friday night The car was acquired from Penske Racing during the off-season. The car was previously driven by 2008 Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman. RC Consultants will provide the horsepower for the sophomore ARCA team.

· Sheltra currently maintains a point’s position in the top-10 (ninth) heading into Kentucky Speedway this weekend. Sheltra moved into the top-10 in the series’ second race of the season at Salem Speedway and has remained locked in the top-10 since. The Indiantown, Florida native is just 130 markers from entering the top-five and 420 credits from the number one position held by SunTrust Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Last year, the then 21-year old superstar finished seventh in the championship standings competing in 22 of the scheduled 23 events.

· Sheltra will make 400 left hand turns on Friday night, six hundred twenty eight (628) less turns than the series last outing, the Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250 at the .625-mile track of Cayuga Motor Speedway late last month.

In addition to running a full 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule, Sheltra will also run a limited schedule in NASCAR and compete in selected dirt late model events (UMP and WoO Series) throughout the United States.

Sheltra Motorsports Quick Facts:

Team Name: Sheltra Motorsports, No. 60 Dodge Charger

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, Martin County Petroleum, Sheltra & Son Construction, Sheltra Cattle Company, Recycling Services, Aaron’s Outdoors, Indiantown Marina, All About Flowers, Speed Media, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, DMC Graphics and Purcell Tire & Rubber.

Crew Chief: John Hayden

Team Manager: Keith Strunk

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TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Sheltra Motorsports
PHONE: 239.834.9797 or 830.261.1215
EMAIL: knight849@aol.com