ARCA: Patrick Sheltra Looks To Back Up Win at Chicagoland Speedway

Last weekend at Illinois State Fairgrounds, Patrick Sheltra notched win No. 1 for 2010.

Sheltra, not only looks forward to Chicago due to the win, but due to intermediate track success.

“To head back to a place like Chicagoland fresh off a win keeps your confidence up and direction intact," Sheltra said in the team preview. "We finished ninth last August at Chicagoland but we weren’t pleased with the result. In a sense, I look to finish what we started on Friday.”

Earlier this year, ARCA held a test at Chicagoland Speedway, yet Sheltra Motorsports skipped it in favor of focusing on shorter tracks.

“We’ve been very good on the bigger tracks this year,” Sheltra added. “We opted to turn our attention to some of the other races including Springfield (last weekend) in lieu of the Chicagoland test, so I would like to say, it’s already paid off with a win.

"It’s fair to say though, we won’t exactly know where we stand with the field until practice gets underway on Thursday afternoon but thankfully there is another practice on Friday morning that will allow us the opportunity to fine-tune our No. 60 Sheltra Motorsports Toyota Camry for the race.”

Currently in points, Sheltra ranks fourth, 40 points behind leader Frank Kimmel. Every point is now as crucial as ever as they are only five races left on the schedule.

“Looking at the points, there is at least eight of us that really and truly can honestly win this thing,” Sheltra added. “That’s impressive for the ARCA Racing Series. It’s just been that good of a season for them. No one has walked away with the wins or the championship which has our series being looked at in a lot of positive ways.

"The race on Friday night will come down to staying out of trouble and having a good handling car. Ted (Musgrave) was my driver coach here last year and he told me something that I thought was impossible. He told me to try it and I did. To my shock, disbelief and advantage it worked.

"I’m keeping what he told me in the back of my head. Maybe, just maybe that could be the extra tip that puts us back in victory lane for the second consecutive race.”

Also on the line this weekend are two other championships—the Bill France Four Crown and the ARCA Speedway Challenge.

The Bill France Four Crown consists of the four tracks in August and is awarded to the driver with the best average finish. The four tracks in August are Berlin, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Illinois State Fairgrounds, and Friday night's race at Chicagoland. Sheltra currently sits fourth, 45 points behind Joey Coulter.

The ARCA Speedway Challenge is awarded to the co-owner who's driver has the best average finish on tracks 1.5 mile or greater. Sheltra Motorsports currently leads over the No. 32 Win-Tram Racing team (driver: Justin Marks) by 65 points with two events remaining.

Sheltra Motorsports is looking for sponsorship for the remaining five races on the ARCA schedule. If interested, contact Brandon Hinson or e-mail [e-mail].

The Ansell Protective Gloves 150 (100 laps/150 miles) is the 15th of 20 events on the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards schedule. The 10th ARCA event held at Chicagoland Speedway is a two-day show.

Practice begins Thursday, August 26 with a one hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 4:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m. A Happy Hour practice run has been set for Friday morning August 27 from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin at 11:30 a.m.

The field will take the green flag shortly after 6:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on SPEED with additional broadcast coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,308 race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com.  All times are local.

For the latest on Patrick Sheltra, Sheltra Motorsports and marketing partnership opportunities please visit PatrickSheltra.com.

Join the official Patrick Sheltra fan page on Facebook (Official Patrick Sheltra Fan Page) by clicking here.

Tweet with Patrick Sheltra on Twitter (@patricksheltra) at twitter.com/patricksheltra.com.