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Patrick Sheltra Ready For Toledo Challenge

Topics: Patrick Sheltra, Hantz Group 200

Patrick Sheltra Ready For Toledo Challenge

Chris Knight
Sheltra Motorsports
May 13, 2008

“Sheltra Motorsports Hoping For First Top-Five Finish Of ’08 Sunday”

TOLEDO, Ohio (May 13, 2008) – After a strong seventh place finish last Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway, sophomore ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) driver Patrick Sheltra and his Sheltra Motorsports team invade Toledo Speedway back in contention and ready to take their first victory together in Sunday’s Hantz Group 200 by Federated Car Care.

The 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series season has been a positive one for the Whitesville, Kentucky based Sheltra Motorsports team. Despite a rough finish at Rockingham Speedway earlier this month, the second-year ARCA team has maneuvered strong finishes and positioned themselves as serious championship contenders as the series strolls towards the seventh race of the 2008 season.

For Sheltra, he’s anxious for a return to Toledo Speedway after an exceptional run in last year’s season finale awarded the Indiantown, Florida native with one of his five top-10 finishes in his inaugural ARCA campaign.

“I wasn’t sure if I really liked Toledo Speedway after the first race last year but after our performance last October, Toledo is a track that I’m excited to return to,” said Sheltra, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Wednesday, May 14. “ Toledo is a fun racetrack but definitely challenges your patience. We are planning to beat our performance from last year Sunday.”

After ironically qualifying 21st for both ARCA RE/MAX Series events at the legendary half-mile oval last season, Sheltra is first to point out that his qualifying efforts have improved this season and he’s hoping the trend will continue this weekend.

“Qualifying is so crucial, especially at a track like Toledo Speedway,” offered Sheltra. “Last year, I wasn’t that great of a qualifier. This year, we’ve qualified exceptionally well. We started in the top-10 at Kentucky Speedway last weekend and I would like to make it two top-10 qualifying runs in a row this weekend.”

Crew Chief John Hayden has elected to bring the same Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS that the team utilized in the season finale last year at Toledo Speedway. It is also the piece that the team participated with at Iowa Speedway last month which awarded the Sheltra Motorsports operation their first top-10 finish of the season in the former Richard Childress Racing machine.

With two straight Toledo top-10s in the books, Sheltra is eager to make it three-for-three in his third trip to the Toledo , Ohio race track.

“We are bringing one of my favorite cars to the race track this weekend,” sounded Sheltra. “Every time we’ve run this car; we’ve been good. I don’t expect anything but the same this weekend at Toledo . We were in contention for a top-five finish here last year before we got taken out. Luckily we were able to come back with a top-10 finish. This year though, we want to be in the top-five and in contention for the win and we’re going to do everything we can to make that a reality.”

Despite losing a spot in the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship standings last weekend at Kentucky Speedway, Sheltra knows that he is an extremely tight point’s battle and with a good run this weekend, Sheltra can find himself back in the top-five.

“I can’t believe how close the point standings are this year,” Sheltra explained. “The run at Rockingham has put us behind but we did what we needed to do last weekend at Kentucky to catch-up. We need to continue our streak of solid performances in Toledo so we can end our six week stretch on a wave of momentum and in prime position in the standings.”

While Toledo is an important weekend for the team on the track, it will also be as equally as important off the track. Sheltra will show heavy participating in the fourth annual ARCA Fan Fest beginning with an appearance on Thursday, May 15 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. local in Findlay , Ohio at South Side Restaurant for Racing World then sign autographs during a luncheon on Saturday, May 17 supporting the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio, the official charity of the Fan Fest. The luncheon will be sponsored by the Patrick Sheltra Foundation.

“I am very excited about being apart of the fourth annual ARCA Fan Fest,” said Sheltra. “It’s a good week of appearances and to have the chance to work with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio is an honor. It should be an enjoyable weekend for all.”

In an effort to bring further awareness and contributions to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio, the Sheltra Motorsports team will donate a dollar for every lap complete in the Hantz Group 200, and are challenging other ARCA RE/MAX Series race teams to do the same.

Sheltra added, “The challenge that we have proposed to the ARCA RE/MAX Series team is an easy one. It’s affordable and going towards a great cause. The ARCA RE/MAX Series is a great family sport and it’s important for us to reach out to others in need. We hope that all the team’s entered for Sunday’s race will accept the challenge.”

Entering Toledo, Sheltra has 31 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his credit with a career best finish of third on the dirt at Illinois State Fairgrounds (August 2007) with an additional top-five finish (fourth) at Berlin Raceway (July 2007) while holding additional top-10s at 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 once for four laps.

The Hantz Group 200 by Federated Car Care (100 miles/200 laps) is the seventh of 21 events on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The first of two events held at Toledo Speedway this season is a two-day show. Practice begins Saturday, May 17 with an hour and half practice session planned from 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Sunday, May 18 shortly after 2:00 p.m. The race will tape-delayed on MavTV with the first showing scheduled for May 23rd at 8:00 p.m. EST. Additional race coverage including live timing and scoring will be 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 21-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 the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (No. 35). 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, Toledo Speedway Notes of Interest:

· Sheltra Motorsports will run a mixture of Chevrolet Monte Carlos and Dodge Chargers during the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series season. For Toledo , Sheltra Motorsports will run a Chevrolet Monte Carlo that has competed twice on the ARCA circuit. During it’s tenure in the ARCA RE/MAX Series the former Richard Childress Racing machine has amassed two top-10 finishes at Toledo Speedway (2007) and Iowa Speedway respectively. A Sheltra Motorsports engine built by Clements Automotive will provide the horsepower for the sophomore ARCA team.

· Sheltra currently maintains a point’s position in the top-10 (eighth) heading into Toledo 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 80 markers from entering the top-five and 150 credits from the number one position held by SunTrust Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Last year, the 21-year old superstar finished seventh in the championship standings competing in 22 of the scheduled 23 events.

· Sheltra will make 800 left hand turns on Sunday afternoon, four hundred (400) more turns than last Saturday night at the 1.5-mile track of Kentucky Speedway.

In addition to running a full 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule, Sheltra will also run a limited schedule in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (No. 35) 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 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

Driver: Patrick Sheltra, Indiantown , Florida

Car Owner: Grace Sheltra, Indiantown , Florida

Marketing Partners: Ferguson Pipe Enterprises, Inc, FloraGanics, American Concrete Industries, Inc, Hardie Pipe, The Casite Company, J&S Bulk Transportation, Inc., US Construction Supply Corp., 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