ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (March 12, 2009) – One of this year’s championship contenders left the opening race of the season at Daytona 14th in the point standings. On the surface a 14th place finish looks good, the problem was that Sheltra was involved in a heavy crash while running third with only a few laps left in the race and sustained a compression fracture in his fourth vertebrae and a dislocated kneecap.
Patrick Sheltra
This weekend, Sheltra will climb behind the wheel for this first time since the Daytona wreck when the ARCA RE/MAX Series holds an open test at the Rockingham Speedway.
“The doctor’s were very pleased with the way the healing process has been going, so they’ve cleared me to go to the test,” said Sheltra. “The boys are pumped up about it and I can’t wait to get back in the racecar.”
Sheltra ended last year’s race in Rockingham early thanks to an engine failure. The team was in a position for a top-10 run before the engine expired and left them very disappointed. This season Sheltra and his No. 60 Dodge are focused on another strong run at Rockingham.
“Rockingham Speedway is an important piece to the ARCA puzzle this year; it can be the track that decides the championship, so we have to make sure we have a car that is capable of winning and leading laps. That’s our main objective.”
The test is this Saturday, March 14th and on track practice will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. with a one hour lunch break at noon.
As always for the open tests at Rockingham, fans will be admitted free into the grandstands.
Carolina 200 race weekend kicks off on Friday April 17th with Thunderfest in downtown Rockingham from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. There will be a hauler parade through downtown Rockingham at noon on Friday for the day-long celebration as well as most of the drivers signing autographs at 6:00 p.m.
On track activities begin Friday as well with UARA practice and qualifying. Saturday April 18th will feature the UARA race and practice and qualifying for the ARCA cars. The Carolina 200 is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday April 19th.
Reserved seat tickets for the Carolina 200 start at $20 with kids 12 and under admitted for only $15 in any section with paid adult. Tickets for Saturday April 18th are only $15 in advance or $20 the day of the race with kids 12 and under free with a paid adult for general admission seating. Friday is free admission for everyone.
For more information about the open test and the upcoming Carolina 200 or to order tickets, please contact the speedway at (910) 205-8800 or visit our website at www.rockinghamspeedway.com.
- Rockingham Speedway Press Release