After posting a solid top-25 effort during the first practice session for the NASCAR Nationwide Series in preparation for tomorrow night’s Subway Jalapeno 250 powered by Coca-Cola, ARCA RE/MAX Series veteran driver Patrick Sheltra and the MacDonald Motorsports team concentrated on dialing in their No. 81 Dodge Charger in “Happy Hour” Thursday evening.

Sheltra, making his return to Daytona International Speedway since surviving a breathtaking accident in the ARCA RE/MAX Series season opener will make his NASCAR restrictor plate debut Friday night. Sheltra adorning the yellow rookie stripes, something he hasn’t been used to since his first full series of ARCA competition in 2007 made his NNS debut last fall at Phoenix International Raceway before following it up with a noteworthy effort at Homestead-Miami Speedway last November.

In the first session, Sheltra in Pat MacDonald’s owned No. 81 circled the Daytona International Speedway in 49.650 seconds transferring to a speed of 181.269 miles per hour. Sheltra’s fastest lap occurred on his eighth of 18 attempts around the Daytona Beach speed plant. At the conclusion of “Happy Hour” Sheltra mounted the 14th fastest time after maneuvering a lap of 49.818 seconds or 180.658 miles per hour. Sheltra painted his quickest lap on round one of 12 around the Daytona International Speedway speed plant. [more]

Climbing back behind the wheel of a racecar at Daytona International Speedway feels like a victory in itself for Patrick Sheltra. Sheltra, the Indiantown, Florida native was involved in one of the scariest looking accidents in the ARCA RE/MAX Series history at Daytona International Speedway in February. The incident inside the season opener’s final 10 circuits nearly ended what is turning out to be a promising career for the 23-year old phenom.

Thursday afternoon, Sheltra in the No. 81 D.H. Griffin-Quality Turf-Buffalo Wings & Rings Dodge Charger for MacDonald Motorsports participated in the first of two NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) practices setting the early adrenaline for tomorrow night’s Subway Jalapeno 250 powered by Coca-Cola. Sheltra will make just his third career Nationwide start and first for MacDonald Motorsports at the “World Center of Racing.”

Piloting his red and white machine around the historic 2.5-mile speedway, Sheltra maneuvered his automobile to the 25th fastest lap posting a time of 49.650 seconds transferring to a speed of 181.269 miles per hour. Sheltra’s fastest lap occurred on his eighth of 18 attempts around the Daytona Beach speed plant. [more]

Sheltra Motorsports and driver Patrick Sheltra were one of 15 ARCA RE/MAX Series teams to participate in the open-test at Iowa Speedway Tuesday in preparation for next Saturday night’s Prairie Meadows 200, the 10th installment on the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule.

The veteran ARCA team based in Whitesville, Kentucky made a adjustment to their testing schedule after ARCA officials cancelled what was supposed to be the most recent ARCA race at Cayuga Motor Speedway this past Sunday. The misfortune turned into a blessing for the Grace Sheltra owned team as the team badly wanted to concentrate their efforts on Iowa Speedway, a race they finished ninth in last year.

Taking to the track on Tuesday morning, Sheltra was comfortable with the handling of his No. 60 Buffalo Wings & Rings Dodge Charger but the Indiantown, Florida native registered with his crew and leader John Hayden that they needed a lower gear to get the full effect of the team’s automobile. With the change set the afternoon, the conditions were better but the team will make a few more tweaks hoping to give the 23-year old young-gun a shot at his second career ARCA RE/MAX Series victory. [more]

Officials from MacDonald Motorsports and Sheltra Motorsports jointly announced today that ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) veteran Patrick Sheltra has been tapped to drive the No. 81 D.H. Griffin-Quality Turf-Buffalo Wings & Rings Dodge Charger in Friday’s Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

For Sheltra, he will make his third career NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start but most notably make his dramatic return to the “World Center of Racing” since surviving a breathtaking accident in the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series opener in February which nearly halted the 23 year’s old racing career.

“I would like to thank MacDonald Motorsports for this opportunity,” said Sheltra, a native of Indiantown, Florida. “I wasn’t planning on running this race but all the components glued together and now we can focus on having a good race.” [more]

Even with a couple weeks break from ARCA RE/MAX Series competition following last Saturday's Tim Richmond Memorial at Mansfield, veteran driver Patrick Sheltra is on the move. From working for his family-owned company to making a special appearance for his marketing partner Buffalo Wings & Rings, there has been no rest for Sheltra, who's also making plans to test at Iowa Speedway this Tuesday.

"Mr. Showtime" will head to Newton, Iowa on Monday to prepare for the ARCA RE/MAX Series open test on Tuesday, June 30.

However, before Sheltra packs his bags for Iowa, he'll make a pitstop in Richmond, Indiana for a party at the local Buffalo Wings & Rings restaurant owned by Leonard Ranieri who is responsible for bringing the growing and likeable restaurant chain on-board full-time to the Sheltra Motorsports team. [more]

After testing at Mansfield Motorsports Park (MMP) early last week, Patrick Sheltra and his Sheltra Motorsports team were looking forward to Saturday’s Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA 200 but the Indiantown, Florida native faced several obstacles throughout the night which led to a less-than-satisfying 21st place finish.

Entering the one-day show fresh off a win Friday night at Union County Speedway in Liberty, Indiana in his dirt car the 23-year old phenom had hopes of putting his Grace Sheltra-owned ARCA team in victory lane for the second time this season.

In practice, Sheltra guided the No. 60 Buffalo Wings & Rings Dodge Charger to the 13th fastest time posting a lap of 17.002 seconds or 105.877 miles per hour. Sheltra informed his team led by veteran crew chief John Hayden about the handling of his racecar. “We’re loose in and tight off, but I’m not going to complain because I feel that we will be real good tonight,” said Sheltra. “I know we left some out on the table, so we’ll try and make up for that in our qualifying run.” [more]

Fresh off a win at Union County Speedway in Richmond, Indiana last night, veteran ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Patrick Sheltra with his Whitesville, Kentucky based Sheltra Motorsports team posted the 13th fastest effort Saturday afternoon at Mansfield Motorsports Park (MMP) in preparation for tonight’s Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA 200, the ninth installment of the 2009 season.

Sheltra entered the practice on the heels of a smooth testing session at the half-mile oval this past Monday where the team led by crew chief John Hayden tried to figure out the perfect setup that would allow Sheltra to earn his second career ARCA victory in tonight’s race.

“We’re loose in and tight off, but I’m not going to complain because I feel that we will be real good tonight,” said Sheltra. “I know we left some out on the table, so we’ll try and make up for that in our qualifying run.” [more]