Bryan Silas Looking For Perfect Weekend At Toledo

Topics:  Bryan Silas, Menards 200

Chris Knight
Fast Track Racing
May 13, 2009

TOLEDO, Ohio (May 13, 2009) - - On a string of strong finishes in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, Stuart, Florida native Bryan Silas hopes to continue his early season charge in Sunday’s Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care at Toledo Speedway.

And while Silas already has one top-five finish in the books last month at Rockingham Speedway, the 21-year old driver is concentrating on soldiering past that fourth place finish and end up in victory lane in the sixth race of the season Sunday afternoon.

Winning would be huge for the third year ARCA driver especially at a track that hasn’t always been particularly kind to the Fast Track Racing team in the past.

“I haven’t always been a fan of Toledo Speedway,” admitted Silas. “Although practice makes perfect and after finishing in the top-10 last October, I think an even better finish is on our horizon this weekend.”

In five starts at the half-mile oval, Silas has finished in the top-16 three times including the solid seventh place run in the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series season finale last year. While a top-five finish would be great way to end the month for ARCA RE/MAX Series racing, Silas is focusing on another project, qualifying.

With an average starting position of 27 at the historic half-mile oval, the veteran pilot is looking to change that fact this weekend.

“Qualifying hasn’t been our strong point at Toledo in the past,” sounded Silas, one of the more popular faces in the ARCA RE/MAX Series garage. “However, this is a new year and the team is more focused as well as the driver, so I think you’ll see a big change in our starting spot on Sunday. Cal (Boprey, crew chief) and I worked real well at Salem and that was our first test on a short track this year, so I’m really enthused to see what we can pull off this weekend.”

He added, “With a strong starting spot you are more than likely going to keep yourself out of trouble and be around for the final 50 laps and have a shot at winning the race. I’m going to have a big fan club at Toledo this weekend (laughs), so if we land in victory lane this weekend, it’s going to be a big party.”

Sitting fifth in the ARCA RE/MAX Series point standings entering this weekend’s festivities, Silas is also racing to protect his position while looking at climbing the ladder.

“We’re in a great position right now,” Silas said. “The team is finishing races and we’re gaining points. We cannot look at the drivers ahead of us, we just have to keep focused on what we are doing and the points should tally. We’re championship material this year; I think we’ve proven that. We just need to stay on our game.”

Nason, Yeager, Gerson, White & Lioce P.A., Holland Pump, Oasis Outsourcing, Palm Beach Grading (PBG) and Rockingham Speedway will all sponsor Silas’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS for his 55th career ARCA start this weekend.

The Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care (200 laps / 100 miles) is the sixth of 22 events on the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The 65th ARCA race at Toledo Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Saturday, May 16 with an hour and a half practice session planned from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell 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, May 17th shortly after 2:00 p.m. The event will not be televised but the race will be broadcasted live through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com. All times are local.

For more on Bryan Silas please visit, BryanSilasRacing.com.
Visit Fast Track Racing on the web at, FastTrackRacing.com.
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