Sheltra Motorsports Full-Steam Ahead For 2008 ARCA
Season
“Sheltra Motorsports Also Announces Limited NCTS Bid”
COVINGTON, Kentucky (December 8, 2007) - - Sheltra Motorsports
officially announced today at the ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) Championship
Awards Banquet Press Conference exercises that the Kentucky-based
operation will return for a full championship effort next season
with sophomore-bound and rising star Patrick Sheltra continuing
to pilot the team’s familiar No. 60 entry.
The team is stepping up their program from their inaugural year
of competition including adding new marketing partners, personnel
and equipment with the intent to be in contention for the 2008
ARCA RE/MAX Series championship.
Keith Strunk will return to the Sheltra Motorsports organization
as team manger with veteran and former ARCA driver John Hayden
serving as crew chief next year. The team also welcomes Kevin
Huffine who joins the team as a full-time spotter and shock specialist.
Last month, the team announced the addition of Chris Knight to
its Pubic Relations department.
Sheltra Motorsports furthermore announced a number of brand new
marketing partners for the 2008 racing season. Ferguson Pipe Enterprises,
Inc, American Concrete Industries, Inc, Hardie Pipe, Indiantown
Marina, Drug Discovery Testing (DDT), All About Flowers, Speed
Media and Casite Products will all sport their logos in 2008.
Additionally, FloraGanics, J&S Bulk Transportation, Inc.,
Martin County Petroleum and SawHorse Outfitters are all returning
from the 2007 season.
“We are extremely excited about the direction of our team,”
said driver Patrick Sheltra. “We have worked hard since
the conclusion of the 2007 season to make sure that next year
is an unforgettable year for our team and I feel with the support
of our new and existing marketing partners we’re off to
a great start to make the 2008 season a memorable one.”
In addition, Sheltra Motorsports also announced that the team
will run two manufacturers throughout the course of the 21-ARCA
RE/MAX Series race schedule next year. The team will spend the
season running the Chevrolet and Dodge banners with Chevrolet
taking precedence at the superspeedway (Daytona and Talladega)
and short track events and the Dodge hosting it’s presence
at all remaining races. The team purchased the Dodges from North
Carolina based Penske Racing South. Clements Automotive Engineering
will continue to provide the horsepower from the team’s
Chevrolet bowtie. The team is zeroing in on an organization to
field the Dodge steam with the announcement expected to come next
month.
“We were exploring all of our opportunities as far as manufacturers
were concerned for next year,” added Sheltra. “After
carefully reviewing all of our options we felt that it was in
the best interest in Sheltra Motorsports to team with both Chevrolet
and Dodge in 2008. We have some very strong Chevrolets in our
fleet and the Dodge’s we’ve acquired have proven to
be a great asset to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour, which we
feel, will make a positive transition over to the ARCA RE/MAX
Series as well. The changes we’ve made to the team are to
enhance our program and I feel that by adding another manufacturer
to our stable will make that a reality. The Dodges showed incredible
ARCA strength last season and we don’t expect any less in
next year.”
To go along with the switch to Dodge, the team also unveiled
at the ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Awards Banquet Press Conference
a new paint scheme that the team will run in several events in
2008. The new scheme designed between the team and Speed Media
based out of Michigan carries the camouflage look adapted from
Sheltra’s dirt car, which he will also run on a limited
basis in 2008.
“The scheme is something different for 2008,” sounded
Sheltra. “It’s something we talked about during the
2007 season and this new scheme is great and will look awesome
especially under the lights at some of the bigger tracks next
year. We know the other scheme (bright green) was popular and
that’s not going anywhere, but this is something that we
feel that the fans will enjoy next year in ARCA.”
Sheltra Motorsports also announced today that the ARCA RE/MAX
Series will not be the only racing sanction that they will be
competing in next year. Additionally, the team will run a limited
schedule in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after purchasing
equipment from Billy Ballew Motorsports (BBM), a two-time winning
affiliation this year. The two organizations met at Homestead-Miami
Speedway in November. Sheltra, who made his NCTS debut at Atlanta
Motor Speedway in October, will announce his 2008 NCTS schedule
early next year.
“While we know we have the capabilities of running strong
in ARCA, the goal is to advance myself and our program to NASCAR.
It’s definitely on the horizon. Our new alliance with Billy
Ballew Motorsports will pay dividends next year and we’re
excited about the future. It’s going to be a busy year for
us, but we’re looking forward to it,” Sheltra noted.
Finally, Sheltra Motorsports also introduced the Patrick Sheltra
Foundation. The Foundation started by the 21-year old driver will
thrive to bring recognition to local hospitals surrounding the
21-race ARCA schedule next year. Hoping to implant the smile of
a child, the Patrick Sheltra Foundation will join forces with
the Shriner’s Hospital for Children and the St. Jude’s
Children’s Hospital with Sheltra visiting the hospitals
prior to his duties at the racetrack. Sheltra will visit and spend
time with the children while also hosting benefits throughout
the year with the proceeds going to the hospitals through the
Patrick Sheltra Foundation.
“I’m very excited about the foundation. It’s
something that we’ve topped off the season with and while
it’s going to be a hectic schedule, brightening a child’s
day just makes it all worth wile. We’re hoping to have the
support of other drivers and teams throughout the year as we plan
to make an impact,” Sheltra concluded.
Stay tuned for a revamped website, but in the meantime for more
on Patrick Sheltra, please visit PatrickSheltra.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
NAME: Chris Knight, Sheltra Motorsports
PHONE: 239.834.9797 or 830.261.1215
EMAIL: knight849@aol.com
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