Patrick Sheltra Aims For Perfection At Daytona

If there is one driver who is anxious to get the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) under way, Patrick Sheltra is probably the most excited. And he has every reason to be. After producing some very stout and impressive times in pre-season testing at Daytona International Speedway in December, Sheltra has been named as a pre-race favorite for Saturday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona.

Florida native Patrick Sheltra will roll from the 16th position in today's Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona, marking the second-time in the young-gun's racing career that he'll take the green flag at the "World Center of Speed."

On Friday afternoon, Sheltra aboard his Grace Sheltra Dodge Charger whipped his No. 60 Ferguson Pipe Enterprises-Quality Turf machine around the 2.5-mile speedway to a time of 50.157 seconds amounting to a speed of 179.437 miles per hour. The effort recorded Sheltra's career-best superspeedway effort.

"We're not happy with that, but we'll take it," said Sheltra, who finished sixth in the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series championship standings. "We know the car will run exceptional in the draft and that's the crucial element when racing at Daytona."

Sheltra continued, "We want to win today and we're hoping we can make that happen. Our bunch has worked hard over the winter to put the most competitive piece on the track as they possibly can. I think we're going to be in great shape."

Sheltra Motorsports based in Whitesville, Kentucky elected not to participate in Friday evening's happy hour session and Sheltra believes it was the right move.

"John (Hayden, crew chief) said he didn't want to take a chance of anything happening and I agreed with him 100 percent. We know the car is good. It was safer under the cover than on the race track last night."

Immediately following Daytona, Sheltra will have zero time to relax as he'll head to Volusia County Speedway two days later and return to his racing roots behind the wheel of the No. 23 Chevrolet for six nights of dirt racing. Sheltra will also race against new Sheltra Motorsports teammate Shannon Babb, who will be on-hand to watch Sheltra compete in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona Saturday afternoon.

If Sheltra was to succeed and post a win in Saturday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series opener it would be the biggest win of his career and his first in a stock car. How’s that for pressure? While the pressure is on, Sheltra is ready to perform.

Ready to deliver.

“I tell you what, I’m ready for Daytona,” said Sheltra. “Pre-season testing was great for us and it really has us looking forward to the season. If we were able to pull off the win on Saturday, it’s going to be more than a great way to start off the season.”

Sheltra, the Indiantown, Florida native will make his second-career start at the “World Center of Racing” but the 22-year old feels he was robbed of a top-10 finish in last year’s event which gives Saturday’s event an ample opportunity for revenge.

“We dodged the big one and were tangled up in a late race skirmish but still had a competitive car last year,” Sheltra recalled. “We had a top-10 finish literally taken from us on a controversial call in the pits. We crossed the line eighth but ended up with top-15 finish. Hopefully this year, the cards will fall our way and we’ll sail to our first top-five finish at Daytona.”

A year after bringing a Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS to Daytona, Sheltra Motorsports led by crew chief John Hayden is bringing Dodge Chargers as its primary manufacturer for this year’s festivities. Sheltra Motorsports ran a Dodge Charger in a limited schedule last year but the Whitesville, Kentucky-based team will turn to the Chrysler nameplate as its lead manufacturer for the 2009 ARCA season.

“We’re excited about running Dodges and we’re off to a fast start,” sounded Sheltra. “Believe it or not this is the same car that we finished fifth with at Talladega Superspeedway last October. We cut the Chevrolet body off during the off-season and put a Charger emblem on it. It’s a former Richard Childress Racing car with a Dodge hemi under the hood.”

For the second consecutive ARCA RE/MAX Series speedway event, Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc returns to Sheltra Motorsports as a major marketing partner of Sheltra’s No. 60. Located in the heart of Okeechobee, Florida, Quality Turf serves their customers with pride and presence. From landscaping to sod to even irrigation installation, Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. can meet your every outdoor need for an affordable price. Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. services the Florida counties of Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin and Palm Beach.

“We’re glad to have Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. back on-board with us for Daytona,” said Sheltra. “Daytona is a little closer to home for them. We gave them a top-five finish at Talladega. Now, we’ll try and give them a win!”

Immediately following Daytona, Sheltra will have zero time to relax as he’ll head to Volusia County Speedway two days later and return to his racing roots behind the wheel of the No. 23 Chevrolet for six nights of dirt racing. Sheltra will also race against new Sheltra Motorsports teammate Shannon Babb, who will be on-hand to watch Sheltra compete in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona Saturday afternoon.

Ferguson Pipe Enterprises, The Casite Company, RC Cola of Owensboro Kentucky, J&S Bulk Transport Co., Inc., Sheltra & Son Construction, Sheltra Cattle Company and Indiantown Marina will join Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. as marketing partners for Sheltra’s junior year of ARCA competition.

Sheltra Motorsports acquired an in-car camera for Saturday’s anticipated thriller. It will mark the second time in Sheltra’s ARCA RE/MAX Series career where fans will be able to experience the action from inside the cockpit of the No. 60 Dodge Charger.