Patrick Sheltra Ready To Put Game Plan In Motion At Mansfield

MANSFIELD, July 15, 2010: After losing the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards points lead last weekend at Iowa Speedway because of an engine failure, Patrick Sheltra returns to Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park (MMP) this weekend armed with a game plan and strategy that eventually should propel the Indiantown, Florida native and his Sheltra Motorsports posse back atop of the coveted championship chase.

After notching eight consecutive top-10 finishes in a row before Iowa, Sheltra left the .875-mile oval with his worst finish of the 2010 season, 29th. Set for his second outing in Saturday night’s Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA 200 at MMP, Sheltra is hoping for some magic, much like he received in 2009 at Salem (Ind). Speedway where the popular 24-year old notched his first career ARCA Racing Series victory after recovering from serious injuries sustained in the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Mansfield Motorsports Park shows similar characteristics to the brutal bullring of Salem (Ind.) Speedway and “Mr. Showtime” as he’s known in the ARCA garage is hoping to rekindle some of the “armor” he carried last year at the Southern Indiana track and hoist it under the lights in the “Buckeye State” for the 10th race of the 2010 ARCA Racing Series season.

“After what happened to us last weekend at Iowa, it reminded me a lot about what happened after Daytona,” Sheltra admitted. “Obviously, the scenarios are completely different but the feelings aren’t. We were able to bounce back from something horrible like Daytona and win the next race at Salem. There’s no doubt in my mind with our focus and determination, we can duplicate a similar story this weekend.”

He continued, “it was tough to swallow what happened last weekend. We had an incredibly strong car and everyone knew it. Unfortunately, things like that though happen in racing. You can’t dwell on the past but you can vow to make a bigger presence for the future.”

Calling Mansfield a “difficult” track, the NASCAR-bound driver is highly optimistic that his team can conquer any swords that could be thrown at his Mooresville, North Carolina based team in the fourth short track battle of the year.

“Mansfield is such a twitchy place,” Sheltra recalled. “It’s a place where sometimes you have to baby the throttle and other times you feel like you’re wide open. We had a good car there last year. Without hesitation, I know Jon (Wolfe, crew chief) and the guys are giving me a piece that is capable of winning this weekend.”

The Floridian added, “our game plan which starts at Mansfield is simple. We’re going to do what we did the first eight races. We plan to show consistency, lead laps and be up front. Eventually, we should be able to overcome the deficit we received at Iowa and have everyone chasing us again.”

Locked 70 markers behind point’s leader Justin Marks, Sheltra was quick to mention that his organization in a span of three races was able to make up a similar deficit and ultimately control the top-spot for three races before Marks was able to re-inherit the lead.

“This championship is going to come down to the wire. I think you’ll be allowed one, maybe two bad races to keep in the hunt but other than that, you have to be in contention, leading laps and vying for those crucial qualifying points. I need to step up my game for qualifying and I have some ideas on how to mange that.”