Patrick Sheltra to Make ARCA Debut on 19th Birthday
INDIANTOWN, FL (May 11, 2005) Eighteen-year-old Patrick Sheltra will make his ARCA RE/MAX Series debut on his 19th birthday this Saturday at the ³Harley-Davidson of Cincinnati 150². The young Florida native has competed in dirt late models as well as the Hooters Pro Cup pavement division before turning to the ARCA RE/MAX proving grounds. All eyes will be cast towards the young wheelman this weekend as he hopes to cap his birthday celebration with a dynamic entrance onto the national pavement stage. Patrick will strap into a 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo that is owned and powered by Tony Clements of South Carolina-based Clements Racing Engines. While the car will carry the #2 for the event, it is actually one of the rides typically driven by 20-year-old dirt late model and ARCA RE/MAX standout Jeremy Clements. Jeremy is still recovering from a serious hand injury that was sustained last July when a driveshaft pierced through the cockpit of his dirt late model at 311 Speedway in North Carolina. ³We are good friends with the Sheltras and Patrick is a great young driver,² commented the elder Clements who will also act as crew chief this weekend for the #2 Brady Ranch/Sheltra & Sons Construction team. ³Patrick wanted to try the ARCA RE/MAX Series at a speedway and we have a good car and program in place so it was a natural fit while Jeremy is on the mend. Actually, Jeremyıs last ARCA race before he got hurt was at Kentucky last year. He qualified 4th in this car and was running as high as 3rd before battery problems ended our day early so we feel we have a good package in place for Patrick this weekend.² Sheltra turned his first laps with ARCA competitors only one week ago at the ARCA RE/MAX open test at Kentucky Speedway - a 1.5-mi tri-oval located in Sparta, KY. A record-setting thirty-three cars were in attendance and Patrick wheeled his way to the eighteenth quickest lap of the test session. When asked about his feelings going into Saturdayıs race, Sheltraıs enthusiasm was evident. ³I am very excited to race at the Kentucky Speedway this Saturday,² the Florida native commented. ³It will be a great experience and the Kentucky Speedway is a great venue. Tony (Clements) is supplying me with a great car and I feel confident that the car will be even faster than it was in the recent test session. I have to thank the Clements family, my family and all of my sponsors for giving me the opportunity to compete in an ARCA event.² ³Mr. Showtime² the latest dirt late model teen to tackle the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Activities for the ³Harley-Davidson of Cincinnati 150² will kick off with Pork Pole Qualifying at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 14th, and the green flag will drop for the 100 lap event at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are still available via the Kentucky Speedway website at http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com and a full event schedule and entry list is available online at http://www.arcaracing.com . For more information on Patrick Sheltra, please visit http://www.patricksheltra.com.