“Mr. Showtime Makes Dramatic Return To 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.”
Sheltra made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut last fall at Phoenix International Raceway and followed his 2008 season up by competing in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the No. 4 entry for Jay Robinson Racing. With a best finish of 24th, Sheltra is looking for a top-15 run under the lights Friday night.
“I’ve run up front at Daytona before and that’s my plan again. MacDonald Motorsports has shown that they have a very impressive plate program so I’m looking forward to taking them to the front and putting us in contention on Friday night. The biggest objective is keeping ourselves out of trouble and being at the right place at the right time when it’s go time. I have all the confidence in the world that we are capable of turning some heads this weekend.”
Sheltra added, “I’ve been a contender to win in both ARCA races I’ve competed in at Daytona. I feel like I’m a good drafter and the other drivers are comfortable drafting with me. Hopefully that will play into our hands. I want to earn the respect of the other drivers but at the same time, I’m hoping they will respect me too.”
D.H. Griffin Companies, Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc., Buffalo Wings & Rings and Indiantown Marina will sport their logos for Sheltra in his NASCAR restrictor plate debut.
Quality Turf of Okeechobee, Inc., Buffalo Wings & Rings and Indiantown Marina have stepped up their agreements from Sheltra’s ARCA RE/MAX Series program to join the rising phenom for his third career stock car race at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
“Our marketing partnerships for this race leave me speechless,” sounded Sheltra. “I’m honored to be representing D.H. Griffin Companies while I’m looking at bringing our ARCA marketing partners a little more exposure in my biggest NASCAR Nationwide race yet.”
MacDonald Motorsports crew chief David Ingram will call the shots for Sheltra with Sheltra’s crew chief and former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver John Hayden acting as Sheltra’s driving coach this weekend. Five additional members of the Sheltra Motorsports clan will fly to Daytona from the Iowa Speedway ARCA RE/MAX Series open test and assist the MacDonald Motorsports team in the 17th race of the season.
Sheltra, nicknamed “Mr. Showtime” for his unique and thrilling driving style has been spending the 2009 season competing full-time in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Currently, after nine races, he sits eighth in points with one win, three top-fives and four top-10 finishes. Sheltra recorded his first career win in the second race of the season at Salem Speedway after recovering from his injuries from Daytona International Speedway in February.
Marketing partnerships are still available for Friday’s event. Interested parties are urged to contact Steve Howell at 912.674.1000 or steve@patricksheltra.com.
The Subway Jalapeno 250 powered by Coca-Cola (100 laps / 250 miles) is the 17th of 35 events on the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. The Fourth of July spectacle race is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, July 2 with an hour and 50 minute practice session planned from 2:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. A final practice session has been etched in on Thursday night from 5:30 p.m. – 6:25 p.m. Qualifying is set for Friday, July 3rd set to roll off at 1:05 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 8:00 p.m. The event will televised live on ESPN with a pre-race show scheduled to lift off at 7:30 p.m. Additional race coverage will be available through the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and Sirius satellite radio channel 128 also launching at 8:00 p.m. All times are local.
- Sheltra Motorsports, Press Release