Sheltra Motorsports Shows Early Test Strength In Daytona

Topics:  Patrick Sheltra, Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200

Chris Knight
Sheltra Motorsports
December 19, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 19, 2008) - - Whitesville, Kentucky based Sheltra Motorsports biggest item on their Christmas list is an opportunity to dominate the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series season opener, the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway in February. It appears that Santa Claus has granted the team’s Christmas wish early as the returning junior ARCA team with Indiantown , Florida native Patrick Sheltra aboard showed strength in day one of preseason testing at the legendary 2.5-mile speedway Friday.

Sheltra Motorsports led by crew chief John Hayden elected to test No. 60B early Friday morning maneuvering a lap of 50.625 seconds at 179.051 miles per hour. This is the same automobile that has been converted over to a Dodge Charger that Sheltra competed with in his restrictor plate debut at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2007. The lap was 14th fastest of 45 drivers who participated in the morning session.

With changes of the norm at any open-test the team headed into the afternoon session banking on the changes to show the serious strength of the veteran team not to mention give a clear indication of the team’s ability to compete for the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship in 2009.

Late in Friday afternoon’s activities, Sheltra blasted his machine to a lap of 49.883 seconds or 180.422 miles per hour at the time putting the team second on the speed chart. The team would lose one position in the final hour of testing to end the day third fastest.

Sheltra’s lap was seven tenths better than his previous best lap Friday morning. The lap also stood as the third quickest of the day overall.

“I’m real happy with the way our Dodge Charger ran,” said Sheltra, who recently accepted his sixth place championship finish at the ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Awards Banquet two weeks ago. “We made a massive number of changes for the afternoon session and it showed. I’m extremely proud of all the guys on the Sheltra Motorsports team. They worked their tails off getting this car ready and it just shows that hard work does pay off. Hopefully tomorrow’s session will be even better.”

Saturday will mark day two of a three-day open test at the “World Center of Racing.” Sheltra Motorsports plans to test No. 60A which is the same piece the 22-year old driver led laps and recorded his career-best restrictor plate finish of fifth at Talladega Superspeedway in October. The team has also transferred this piece from a Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS to a Dodge Charger.

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 the NASCAR Nationwide Series. 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 .

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TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:

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