Patrick Sheltra Heads To Phoenix With A Plan

Topics:  Patrick Sheltra, Hefty Odor Block 200

Chris Knight
Sheltra Motorsports
November 5, 2008

“ARCA RE/MAX Star Looking Forward To NASCAR Experience”

AVONDALE, Arizona (November 5, 2008) - - The time is here. Since he first took the green flag earlier this year in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, Indiantown , Florida native Patrick Sheltra has kept his NASCAR career in the back of his mind and on deck. He’s up to bat this weekend as the 22-year old rising star will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) in Saturday’s Hefty Odor Block 200.

Last week, Sheltra Motorsports announced an alliance with Jay Robinson Racing, a longtime NASCAR Nationwide Series team to help guide the avid dirt racer through the transitions of big time NASCAR racing. With a guaranteed starting position, Sheltra reels himself towards Phoenix International Raceway with pressure but also feeling a sense of security.

“I’m ready for this,” said Sheltra, who recently wrapped up his second full season of competition in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. “We’ve been talking about going Nationwide racing since the beginning of the summer and to know all the details are solidly in place makes it a huge reality for everyone.”

He continued, “I’m extremely grateful to the great people over at Jay Robinson Racing for their help to make my Nationwide debut a reality. I’m heading into the race cautiously optimistic but I think we have a good car and have the ability to turn some heads on Saturday.”

Never having the opportunity to step-foot on the one-mile oval of Phoenix International Raceway, Sheltra isn’t really sure what to expect but he is grateful for the two practice sessions the teams will be granted this weekend.

“I’ve heard a lot about Phoenix ,” sounded Sheltra, who finished the ARCA RE/MAX Series season an impressive sixth in Championship points. “Some say the track can be compared to The Milwaukee Mile, a track we used to compete on in ARCA. If that stands true, I think we’ll be in good shape. The goal in practice is to dial our No. 4 Dodge Charger in and find ourselves comfortable with the racecar heading into the race. The main objective for the race is to finish and complete all 200 laps. If we can do that, we’ll be satisfied.”

Earlier this week Sheltra Motorsports in alliance with Jay Robinson Racing announced their primary marketing partners for the final two events on the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series tour.

Case Construction Equipment, Briggs Construction Equipment and Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. will adorn the team’s Charger. Case and Briggs Construction Equipment will enjoy their first taste of Motorsports while Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. reunites with Sheltra after taking the primary marketing partner role last month at Talladega Superspeedway in the ARCA RE/MAX Series where Sheltra, the Indiantown, Florida native led laps and finished a restrictor plate-best fifth.

“We’ve been extremely fortunate in these difficult economic times to obtain marketing partners for our transition to NASCAR,” remarked Sheltra, who is expected to compete in at least seven NASCAR Nationwide Series events next year. “We’re excited and honored to represent Case, Briggs Construction Equipment and Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc. We’ve been preaching that this is an enormous opportunity for all of us and we certainly plan to make the best of it. Both races are an instrumental part of the Nationwide Series and we hope to find ourselves in the hunt for a good finish while making our marketing partners proud.”

Additionally for Phoenix and Homestead , The Casite Company, RC Cola of Owensboro , Kentucky , SK Services of Okeechobee, Florida and JVC will serve as associate marketing partners for Sheltra’s advancement to the NNS.

The Hefty Odor Block 200 (200 miles/200 laps) is the 34th of 35 events on the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. The desert trip to PIR is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, November 7 with a two hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 9:30 a.m.-11:50 a.m. A final practice has been etched in from 1:35 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. Keystone pole qualifying is slated to begin Saturday, November 8th at 10:05 a.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 2:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. Eastern). The race will air live on ESPN2 beginning at 2:00 p.m. Additional race coverage will be available through the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and Sirius satellite radio channel 128 also launching at 2:00 p.m. All times are local.

For more on Patrick Sheltra, please visit PatrickSheltra.com.

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TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Sheltra Motorsports
PHONE: 239.834.9797 or 830.261.1215
EMAIL: chris@patricksheltra.com