Pocono Raceway A Favorite Of Bryan Silas

Topics:  Bryan Silas, Pocono ARCA 200

Chris Knight
Fast Track Racing
June 3, 2008

LONG POND, Pennsylvania (June 3, 2008) - - With Bryan Silas’s 21st birthday quickly approaching, the sophomore ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) driver looks for his biggest early birthday present yet, a win in Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 at Pocono Raceway.

While Silas has adapted well to the tricky 2.5-mile speedway, his finishes haven’t matched the performance. A career best qualifying effort not to mention leading laps last year at Pocono Raceway have Silas praying that third time’s a charm.

Looking for the full complete start-to-finish package in the eighth race of the season, Silas hopes to return crew chief Jeff McClure to victory circle while also putting Fast Track Racing back on the winning map.

“I’m glad to be going back to Pocono Raceway this weekend,” said Silas, who will make his third career start at Long Pond, Pennsylvania track this weekend. “Last season, I immediately fell in love with the track. It’s unique and challenging but I like that type of racetrack. I know what I’ve learned in the past here will only help me exceed this weekend.”

Speaking of more, Silas aims toward his first career top-five finish in his second season of ARCA competition and believes that Pocono Raceway would fit the perfect opportunity to storm to a career-best finish.

“I’ve led the way at Pocono and I’m eager to do it again,” offered the Stuart, Florida native. “I know what I’m looking for in my car. I also know the dos and don’ts. A good car, a strong motor and a confident driver is the key to beating Pocono Raceway. Hopefully we'll have all three components together to make us one of the eight different ARCA winners so far in 2008.”

The exceptional on-track performance last season at Pocono have many looking at the Fast Track Racing team as a potential strong contender in the first of two trips to the legendary facility this weekend but Silas is looking at a much bigger picture, points.

Currently tied for 11th in the championship standings just 75 markers from entering the top-10, the avid racecar driver would like to net fourth top-10 finish of the season while hoping to garnish some much needed point’s to put him back in the championship chase.

“It’s tight,” offered Silas, referring to the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series point standings. “We knew that the championship chase was going to be tight this year, but to be this tight this early in the season is forcing a lot of the teams to step it up considerably. We’re going to give it our all this weekend and hope that we can muster up enough point’s to put us in the top-10 where we belong.”

With a short break from ARCA RE/MAX Series competition, Silas kept himself busy with testing at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) followed by a USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup event at The Milwaukee Mile last week. While his USAR effort was short-lived due to mechanical failure, the Michigan test was considered a success keeping Silas jived about climbing back into his racecar.

“Seat time is seat time,” sounded Silas. “Testing is what we need to do to keep our program alive and the opportunity to compete in the Hooter’s Pro Cup Series allows me to race and have some fun. Even though we didn’t have the weekend we were looking for at The Milwaukee Mile, we’ll put that behind us and put our prime focus on conquering Pocono Raceway Saturday.”

Nortrax, Shell Rotella T, Holland Pump, ICI Homes, Palm Beach Grading (PBG) and Rockingham Speedway will all sponsor the No. 11 Ford Fusion in the eighth event on the 2008 ARCA calendar.

“This weekend’s race will be on SPEED, so it offers our team a chance to gain some exposure and back up our performance from last year. Our sponsors have been great this season. They’ve supported us through the highs and lows. Everyone is seeing the longtime approach and outlook of our race team and we hope we deliver the finish we know we’re capable of Saturday.”

Entering Pocono, Silas has 37 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his credit with a career best finish of eighth at Kentucky Speedway (May 2008), Iowa Speedway (April 2008), Salem Speedway (April 2007 and April 2008) and Kentucky Speedway (July 2007) while holding an additional top-10 performance at USA International Speedway (March 2007). He holds a career best short track time trials effort of seventh at Berlin Raceway (July 2007). A fourth place qualifying effort at Pocono Raceway (June 2007) is Silas's best speedway run to date. He has controlled the ARCA field for 23 laps in two races.

The Pocono ARCA 200 (200 miles/80 laps) is the eighth of 21 events on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The first of two events held at Pocono Raceway this season is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, June 6th with an hour and forty minute practice session planned from 10:15 a.m.-11:55 a.m. ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying is slated to begin at 1:45 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Saturday, June 7th shortly after 1:00 p.m. The race will same-day tape delayed on SPEED scheduled to air Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. Additional race coverage including live timing and scoring will be available 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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