ARCA Racing Series Race No. 20 American 200 presented by Black’s Tire and Auto Service, Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway, Rockingham, North Carolina
Race Information: Event: American 200 presented by Black’s Tire and Auto Service, Saturday, October 9 at 1:30 p.m. Local Time Track: Rockingham Speedway Qualifying: Friday, October 8, at 2:30 p.m. Local Time Track Length: 1.0-mile paved oval.
Last Time Out; Kansas Speedway: In the 19th ARCA Racing Series event of the season, Patrick Sheltra in his No. 60 Tequesta Road and Bridge of Florida / Jones Group International Toyota Camry mounted a fifth place finish after starting 10th in the Kansas Lottery 150. It appeared that Sheltra was on his way to a third victory in 2010 but a late-race caution spoiled the team’s parade. It was though, Sheltra’s 11 top-five finish of the year and 16th top-10 overall and a best finish at Kansas Speedway in four starts.
All Roads Lead To Rockingham: The concluding chapter of the 2010 ARCA Racing Series tour will come to an end Saturday afternoon as the American 200 presented by Black’s Tire and Auto Service signifies the season finale for the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards at the historic Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway. The series will also crown a champion Saturday and with Sheltra leading the championship title by 10 points over second place Craig Goess and 20 markers to Tom Hessert in third, the Indiantown, Florida native is the favorite to become the newest ARCA champion.
Rockingham Quick Track Fact: 24-year old Patrick Sheltra will make his fourth career start at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway on Saturday afternoon. In his three prior ARCA starts, Sheltra has maneuvered a career best finish of second in April 2009 after qualifying third. Sheltra also left the event as the ARCA Racing Series point’s leader tied with Parker Kligerman. Sheltra has also controlled the field for eight laps at the abrasive one-mile oval.
It’s All For The Cause: This weekend at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway, Patrick Sheltra and his Mooresville, North Carolina-based team will show their support to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. The team will carry their signage logo decked out in pink with the phrase “Sheltra Motorsports: Fighting for the Cure! How about you?” on the deck-lid and b-post areas of their No. 60 Toyota Camry. The team will also recognize Debbie Evans, a proud supporter of Sheltra Motorsports who is battling breast cancer. Sheltra Motorsports will also identify the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® program who currently is assisting the Evans family in this time of need. For their commitment to the family, the fourth year ARCA team has chosen the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to be their official charity of choice for the month of October.
Locked and Loaded For Open Test: Sheltra Motorsports will join a gaggle of other ARCA Racing Series teams for an open-test session at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway on Thursday, October 7th to shake down their automobile(s) for Saturday’s season finale. The team led by veteran crew chief Jon Wolfe will bring two Toyota’s to the test before deciding which of the Japanese nameplate they will use as their primary car for official on-track activities beginning Friday. The open test begins at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. with a one-hour break for lunch between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. local.
Autographs Anyone?: Before turning to his duties on Friday and Saturday, Sheltra will join a host of other ARCA Racing Series drivers in downtown Rockingham at Thunderfest (Harrington Square; 111 E. Washington Street, Rockingham, North Carolina 28379) on Thursday, October 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (local) for a meet and greet and an autograph session.
Welcome Back Tequesta: For the final ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards event of the year, Sheltra Motorsports is proud to boast the signage of Tequesta Road and Bridge of Florida on the hood of their Japanese nameplate. A soon-to-be-completed project by Sheltra & Son Construction of Indiantown, Florida, the Tequesta Road and Bridge located in Tequesta, Florida, stands approximately 28 miles Southeast from Indiantown, Florida, symbolizing one of the greatest spectacles of new construction in the Sunshine State. The Grand Opening of the Tequesta Bridge was held last Saturday, October 2, 2010.
Welcoming Back Some International Love Too: Jones Group International has leaped aboard the No. 60 Sheltra Motorsports Toyota Camry for the final event of the year at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway. Located in Amherstburg Ontario Canada, Jones Group International, a successful construction company is owned by part-time race car driver Terry Jones. The Jones Group International logo will be sported on the television panel of the No. 60 Toyota Camry.
Caught In The CATCHFENCE: For the season finale, Sheltra Motorsports welcomes the support of CATCHFENCE.com, one of the most recognized Motorsports web sites available on-line for championship weekend at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway, CATCHFENCE.com, headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia is owned by Mark Stiles. CATCHFENCE.com provides news and perspective content for the three major national touring series for NASCAR, in addition to the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, the IZOD IndyCar Series among others.
New Record Set; But Thirsty For More: While eclipsing his 11th top-five finish of the year at Kansas Speedway last Thursday, Patrick Sheltra continues to rewrite his own personal record books for the number of finishes inside the top-five and top-10 for a full-season. In his previous three full-time seasons, Sheltra had posted a season high of four top-five finishes in 2009. Sheltra’s personal best overall season of nine top-10 finishes in 2008 was overtaken again by his performance in the Kansas Lottery 150. Thus far in 2010, Sheltra has mastered two wins, 11 top-fives and 16 top-10 finishes in 19 races. Sheltra is hoping to expand his new personal record with just one race remaining this year.
Point’s Check: 19 races down, one to go, Sheltra with the guidance of crew chief Jon Wolfe sits first in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings accumulating 4495 points. The driver nicknamed “Mr. Showtime” remained in the top-spot following his solid run last week at Kansas Speedway. The 24-year old Sheltra also controls the first position in the ARS car owner standings. Earlier this year, Sheltra held the top-spot for three consecutive races (Toledo, Michigan and Pocono) in a row and shared the top-spot with Tom Hessert for one race (DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds). In 2009, he also shared the top-spot with Parker Kligerman for one race (Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway – April).
Nice Statistic; Solid Stats: By posting his 16th top-10 finish of the season at Kansas Speedway on September 30, Sheltra is the only driver in the ARCA Racing Series to finish inside the top-10 in 16 of the 19 races completed thus far in 2010. Sheltra kicked off his strongest start to an ARCA season with a fifth place performance at Daytona, a 10th place performance at Palm Beach, a fourth at Salem Speedway, a seventh at Texas Motor Speedway, a second at Talladega, an eighth at Toledo Speedway, a fourth at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, a third at Michigan International Speedway, a sixth at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, a second-place at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway, a win on the dirt at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and another win at Chicagoland Speedway, a fourth at the Du Quoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds, a third place at Toledo (Oh.) Speedway, a sixth under the lights at Salem (Ind.) Speedway and most recently a fifth at Kansas Speedway in round number 19.
Patrick Sheltra ARCA Career At-A-Glance: Entering Rockingham, Sheltra has 86 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards starts to his credit with three career victories at Salem (Ind.) Speedway (April 2009), the Illinois State Fairgrounds (August 2010) and Chicagoland Speedway (August 2010). During his ARCA tenure, Sheltra has accumulated 21 top-fives and posted 38 top-10 finishes. A second place qualifying effort at Chicagoland Speedway (August 2010) is Sheltra’s best time trials effort to date. He has controlled the ARCA field 10 times for 276 laps.
Are You In The Know?: Patrick Sheltra and Sheltra Motorsports are proud to be apart of the Facebook (Official Patrick Sheltra Fan Page) and Twitter (@patricksheltra) cravings. If you have an account, join our club as the Sheltra Motorsports team drives towards winning the 2010 ARCA Racing Series championship.
ENDING SOON; So Vote Him Your Favorite Driver!: Race fans can vote Patrick Sheltra as the 2010 ARCA Racing Series most popular driver by visiting ARCANation.com. From now until the end of the season, race fans can click on to ARCA’s official fan-related web site and vote once a day for their favorite ARCA Racing Series driver. The winner will be announced at the ARCA Racing Series Championship Awards Banquet in Covington, Kentucky this December. If you’re an ARCA Nation member your vote counts twice per day for one driver. If you’re a non-ARCA Nation member, your vote counts only once. Sign up today at ARCANation.com and vote for Patrick Sheltra!
On Kansas Speedway: “Obviously we felt like we would have won the race if not for the last caution flag. There’s nothing we can do about it now. We were content with a fifth but disappointed we couldn’t bring everyone home another win. We’ll just have to make up for it Saturday at Rockingham.”
On Rockingham Speedway: “Rockingham Speedway is a neat place but can be difficult to negotiate. You have to use your head for tire management and even fuel conservation. The championship is on the line this weekend, so while we plan to play it smart, we can’t afford to let our guard down and allow those other guys (Craig Goess and Tom Hessert) the chance to take the title from us.”
On The Team’s Breast Cancer Awareness Incentive: “I think most everyone in the ARCA garage has known someone or does know someone who has battled not only breast cancer but some type of cancer throughout their lifetime. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we plan to do everything we humanly can to bring further attentiveness and awareness to the disease. Our hearts and prayers are with Debbie (Evans) and everyone else in the world fighting for remission.
On The 2010 ARCA Racing Series Championship: “I wasn’t joking last year when I said at the ARCA banquet, I was going to be back this year and we were going to be a threat for the championship. Here we are; living up to our promise. I’m so proud of the Sheltra Motorsports team. We’re going into Saturday’s race with the same mentality we’ve had all year long and hopefully it will be enough to secure the championship title!”
PRIOR RESULTS:
Patrick Sheltra, Rockingham Speedway Prior ARCA Performance Record:
Date Event Start Finish Laps Status
05/08 Carolina 500K 12 34 200/312 Engine
04/09 Carolina 200 3 2 200/200 Running
10/09 American 200 33 38 115/200 Accident
The American 200 presented by Black’s Tire and Auto Service (200 laps / 200 miles) is the 20th of 20 events on the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards schedule. The fifth ARCA race held at Rockingham is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, October 8 with an hour and a half practice session planned from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin later in the day at 2:30 p.m. The event will take the green flag on Saturday, October 9 shortly after 1:30 p.m. The race will be broadcasted live on SPEED with additional broadcast coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,313 race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards since it was formed in 1953 available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.
Fast Links:
Driver / Team: Patrick Sheltra on the web: PatrickSheltra.com
Marketing Partner: Tequesta Road and Bridge of Florida: Tequesta.org
Sanction: ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards: ARCARacing.com
About Sheltra Motorsports:
Sheltra Motorsports (sheltramotorsports.com) is a three-tier professional Motorsports organization consisting of dirt and asphalt competition. Patrick Sheltra, a 24-year old native of Indiantown, Florida competes in the UMP and WoO (Dirt) Series; while also running a full schedule in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards (No. 60) and a limited schedule in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The team is headquartered in Indiantown, Florida with additional operations in Richmond, Indiana and Mooresville, North Carolina.
- Sheltra Motorsports Press Release
