Milka Duno Aiming for Checkered Flag Finish at Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, FL  (February 8, 2011) – Milka Duno may be an ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards rookie, but she is certainly no ordinary rookie driver. As a record-setting, winning driver in the American Le Mans Series and Rolex Sports Car Series, as well as an IndyCar Series competitor, the Venezuelan-native has proven she has what it takes to get to the front of the field. Duno comes to Daytona with a championship team, championship crew chief and the 2010 ARCA Racing Series champion, Patrick Sheltra, as team owner.  Combined, Duno and the Sheltra Motorsports team will be ones to watch when the green flag drops on the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 Saturday, February 12^th at Daytona International Speedway.

In 2007, with a 2^nd-place overall result, Duno earned the highest finish ever by a female driver in the history of the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona.  

Duno took to Daytona International Speedway’s high-banks during the ARCA Racing Series test in January making a strong showing with the Sheltra Motorsports team.  While much of the three-day test session was devoted to single car runs and getting Duno reacquainted to a stockcar, she ended the test session 13^th on the speed charts in a field of 58 drivers. 

“I’m very excited to get to Daytona,” said Duno. “The team has worked very hard since the test in preparation for the race.  We are looking forward to a good result this weekend at the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200.”  

With only one previous start in the ARCA Racing Series (Daytona, 2010), Duno will be sure to rely on advice from team owner, 2010 champion Patrick Sheltra, to help get her No. 63 Dodge to the front of the pack. 

“Daytona is tricky,” said the current champion, Sheltra. “I enjoy the superspeedways and will be there to give Milka all the help I can give to get her to the finish line first.  Jon Wolfe (crew chief) is one of the best at what he does, and we have the same crew we won the championship with last year. Milka will have a great opportunity to bring home a good finish.”

Milka Duno and the No. 63 CITGO Dodge Fast Facts:
Duno at Daytona:  Duno made her ARCA Racing Series debut at Daytona’s 2.5-mile Superspeedway in 2010.  Luck was not on Duno’s side as she was the victim of a lap six wreck that relegated her to a 43^rd-place finish.

This Week’s Dodge:  Milka Duno will be piloting chassis No. SM. 001 at Daytona International Speedway. This chassis came from Richard Childress Racing and was converted to a Dodge.  Patrick Sheltra last used this car to score a fifth-place finish at Daytona and a second-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in 2010.

CITGO Did You Know?: CITGO is more than just your friendly neighborhood gas station providing a good deal on good fuel. CITGO is also major supplier and refining giant with a directly owned or operated refining capacity of 750,000 barrels per day. For more information about CITGO logon to www.citgo.com.

Autographs:  Fans will have the chance to meet Milka Duno and all of their favorite ARCA Racing Series drivers on Saturday, February 12 from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. EST during an all-access open garage.
Keep Up With Milka: Want to learn more about Milka Duno?  Logon to her official website at www.milkaduno.com.   

Tune In: The green flag will drop for the start of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at 4:30 p.m. EST. ARCARacing.com will have live audio and timing and scoring coverage with SPEED carrying the live race broadcast beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Crew Chief Jon Wolfe on Daytona Expectations:

“I am looking forward to helping Milka gain valuable rookie experience in the ARCA season opener at Daytona.  A top-10 finish would be a really good, realistic goal for us. With the new track surface and the different strategies that will play out now, really anything is possible. I was encouraged with Milka’s progress during the test, and I’m looking forward to a great weekend.”

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Sheltra Motorsports, established in 2007, is in the midst of its fifth season of ARCA Racing Series competition.  Owned by Florida-native, Patrick Sheltra, the owner-driver team captured the 2010 ARCA Racing Series driver and owner’s championship titles on the strength of two wins, 12 top-fives and 17 top-10 finishes in 20 events.  Sheltra Motorsports is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C., with additional operations in Indiana and Florida.  For more information, visit www.sheltramotorsports.com. 

About CITGO:

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products.  The CITGO familiar orange and blue triangle has been an enduring American success story since 1910.  Today CITGO operates nearly 7000 gas stations owned by a loyal group of 800 local business men and women.  CITGO has given back to the communities of the USA and the world through its Simón Bolívar Foundation.   For more information visit www.citgo.com