Bryan Silas Leaps To Fourth Top-10 Of 2010 At Pocono

Topics:  Bryan Silas, Weis Markets 125

Chris Knight
Fast Track Racing
August 3, 2010

LONG POND, Pennsylvania (August 3, 2010) - - Despite only competing in a 50-lap contest at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Stuart, Florida native and new daddy Bryan Silas surged from a 20th place starting position and finished ninth in this past Saturday’s Weis Markets 125.

Ironically, the Long Pond triangle has been one of Silas' favorite race tracks. The 11th race of the 2010 ARCA Racing Series (ARS) presented by RE/MAX and Menards season awarded the driver of the No. 11 Rockingham Speedway / Palm Beach Grading Ford Fusion with his first career top-10 effort at the 2.5-mile course.

With the recent departure of crew chief Cal Boprey, Silas would be reunited with Dave McClure, who helped propel Silas to his career-best starting position of fourth at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in his inaugural debut in 2007.

Despite posting the 15th fastest lap in the lone practice session on Friday morning, the Fast Track Racing (FTR) group went to the drawing board and threw a conservative setup underneath the Andy Hillenburg-owned machine. It was evident by the end of qualifications that the changes made were a little too abravise.

During his one-lap tango in time trials, Silas negotiated his blue oval around the course in 56.673 seconds amounting to a speed of 158.806 miles per hour which landed one of the most likeable drivers on the ARCA tour in the 20th position.

“She was just way too loose,” offered Silas after his qualifying run. “We threw a couple changes at the car but I think we went a little overboard. I’m not worried though; we’re going to be fine for the race. Even though it’s a very short race, we should be able to make up some ground.”

When the green flag waived for the 51st ARCA race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Silas began methodically moving his machine towards the front. Unable to give his team a clear indication of his car's stability due to a halt on lap one by another driver, Silas would wait for the race’s first long green-flag run before informing McClure that his machine was drivable but he was battling a “looseness” feeling upon the exits of the corners. McClure acknowledged his driver’s assessment and planned to make an adjustment during the first round of pit stops.

While other machines elected to begin making their pit stops under the green flag, McClure kept his driver circling around the track and to their benefit the caution would be displayed approaching lap 35. The timing of the yellow was perfect as Silas would have had to duck down pit road just two laps later. Under the quick yellow, the Fast Track Racing team bolted out an impressive pit stop which included four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment to try and correct Silas’s handling woes. Unfortunately, the impressive pit stop would be fumbled as the avid racecar driver had to make a second trip down pit road for a second can of gas which had not been engaged during the team’s first try.

Frustrated by the setback, Silas stepped up as the cheerleader and assured his team that they would be okay. When racing resumed, it was evident that the changes to the car responded on the track as Silas was able to jump from the mid-teens position to earn a ninth place finish in the Weis Markets 125.

“We knew we had a car capable of finishing in the top-10 and we proved that,” said the 23-year old Silas. “Despite the adversity that this team faces on occasion, we prove that we will never give up. We went in the wrong direction for qualifying but the teamwork by everyone in the race persevered and the finish definitely boosts our morale going into this long stretch of races.”

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards is their annual trip to Berlin (Mich.) Raceway for the running of the Berlin ARCA 200 on Saturday night, August 7th. Silas will make his fifth career start at the shortest track on the tour and hopes to improve on his best track performance of ninth in last July’s Wolverine Power Systems 200 Presented by Generac.

“Berlin is such a neat racetrack. I've always run well there even though we haven't had the finishes to reflect that. It’s the tightest short track race on the circuit, so patience and handling is critical. I will be happy if we can leave there with another good run that will help us make a dent in the ARCA point standings.”

Nason, Yeager, Gerson, White & Lioce P.A., MTW Services, Inc., Palm Beach Grading (PBG) and Rockingham Speedway all sponsored Silas’s Ford Fusion for his 82nd career ARCA start.

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

###