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Patrick Sheltra Says “ Salem Here I Come”

Topics: Patrick Sheltra, Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200

Patrick Sheltra Says “ Salem Here I Come”

Chris Knight
Sheltra Motorsports
April 9, 2008

“Mr. Showtime Looking For Show Of His Own Sunday”

SALEM, Indiana (April 9, 2008) - - The wait is over. Sophomore ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) driver Patrick Sheltra is ready to dust off his uniform and relace his shoes as the ARS resumes action after a two month hiatus this Sunday for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Auto Parts at Salem Speedway.

After a solid 15th place finish at the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, Sheltra is itching to keep his string of positive runs going and hopes that his third start at Salem Speedway will award his sixth top-10 finish of his career on April 13.

“Two months has seemed like a year,” said Sheltra. “It’s been a while since we’ve raced an ARCA race but the complaining is over and Salem is here. I’m ready to go!”

Last season, Sheltra, nicknamed “Mr. Showtime” for his unique driving style answered his inaugural debut at the tricky half-mile oval with a solid 11th place finish. The fall event brought a similar run in the No. 60 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS after the Indiantown, Florida native collected a 14th place finish after starting 21st.

The 21-year old driver is quick to point out that experience is everything at a track like Salem Speedway and he’s banking that his two previous starts at the historical short track will pay off on Sunday.

“Can’t describe Salem Speedway any other way than just hang on,” Sheltra sounded. “It’s a mean place but tends to put on a great race for the fans. It’s old and beat up, but some drivers like those characteristics. I do. We’ve had some moderate success there, but we’ve raised the bar this year and we’re looking for more top-10s and more importantly wins! Hopefully we’ll get either our first top-10 or win on Sunday.”

Sheltra Motorsports based in Whitesville , Kentucky just two hours from Salem Speedway had the opportunity to test at the facility on Sunday, April 6. The team is hoping what they learned will transfer over to this weekend’s activities.

“The test was very solid,” Sheltra added. “We spent a lot of times focusing on different agendas. We need to qualify better at Salem . If you are going to try and finish in the top-10, you have to start near the front. I think what we learned will pay off on both Saturday (qualifying) and Sunday.”

Crew Chief John Hayden has opted to bring a different Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS to the first of two events this season at Salem Speedway. The primary machine will be the same Chevrolet that Sheltra maneuvered at Nashville Superspeedway, Kansas Speedway, Pocono Raceway (June) and Kentucky Speedway in 2007.

The automobile has proven to be a strong car in the team’s fleet and bringing it to Salem Speedway the Sheltra Motorsports team is hoping for the same type of results.

“Our speedway program will be Dodges this year, so we’re transformed this car into a short track car,” Sheltra explained. “It’s a car that responded well to changes and as a team we feel it can give us an advantage at Salem . I think we’ll hit the jackpot.”

Following ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying Saturday afternoon, Sheltra will head to Vernon , Indiana for a night of dirt track racing at Twin Cities Raceway behind the wheel of his No. 23 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Heading into Salem, Sheltra has 26 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 (June 2007), DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (September 2007) and Toledo Speedway (October 2007). Three ninth-place qualifying efforts at Kansas Speedway (April 2007), Pocono Raceway (June 2007) and Illinois State Fairgrounds (August 2007) is Sheltra’s best time trials efforts to date.

The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Auto Parts (200 laps/111 miles) is the second of 21 events on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The 83rd ARCA race held at Salem is a two-day show. Practice begins Saturday, April 12 with an hour and a half practice session planned from 12:00-1:30 p.m. ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying is set for later in the day slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. The event will take the green flag on Sunday, April 13 shortly after 2:15 p.m. The race will be televised as tape-delayed (date and time to be announced) on MavTV with additional race coverage 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, Salem 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 Salem , Sheltra Motorsports will run a Chevrolet Monte Carlo purchased from Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Sheltra Motorsports ran the automobile six times during the 2007 season. A Sheltra Motorsports engine built by Clements Automotive will provide the horsepower for the sophomore ARCA team.

· In addition to running the ARCA RE/MAX Series event at Salem Speedway this weekend, Sheltra will also be competing in his No. 23 Chevrolet Monte Carlo dirt late model at Twin Cities Raceway in Vernon , Indiana on Saturday night, April 12th.

· Sheltra will make 800 left hand turns on Sunday afternoon.

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, Indiantown Marina, All About Flowers, Speed Media, Klotz 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