Sheltra Motorsports and Duno Prepare for the Running of Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway  

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  (January 11, 2011) – Milka Duno delivered strong results on Day One of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards testing at Daytona International Speedway with Sheltra Motorsports, the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard’s Champion.  

Duno, piloting the team’s No. 63 Dodge Charger, was seventh quickest of 29 cars in today’s morning session and fifth quickest of 40 cars in the afternoon session.  

In the morning session Duno completed five laps with a best time of 50.06 seconds at 179.763 mph and improved in a 27-lap afternoon session to a best time of 49.37 at 182.293 mph.  

This was Duno’s first time behind the wheel of a stock car since she competed in the ARCA Racing Series season-opener at Daytona one year ago.  

Crew Chief Jon Wolfe and his crew made some adjustments to the car between sessions and worked with Duno to continue getting her comfortable in the car and to try new lines on the track. Patrick Sheltra worked with her throughout the day to help her get the most out of the car.  

“It was a good practice today and I was very impressed with the team and how professional they were,” said Duno. “We are looking for more speed and will work hard over the next two days to get faster. It was great to get Patrick’s input, and it was a big help. He’s the 2010 champion, and he knows what to do.”  

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About Sheltra Motorsports: 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 capturedthe 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

“Brian Rose Motorsports Set To Officially Launch; Driver Ready To Blossom Again At Daytona!”  

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (January 12, 2011) – – Sometimes, the term “better late than never” can be accepted in racing. For Brian Rose Motorsports, a new entity in the ARCA Racing Series (ARS) presented by Menards, the term couldn’t have been more perfect.

  After a monstrous winter storm crippled much of the mid-west and south east Sunday night and Monday, Brian Rose and his Brian Rose Motorsports team were trapped in the wintry mix that included ice and snow and unable to make the haul to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for the first of a three-day open test session.     Luckily, road and weather conditions improved on Tuesday that allowed the team to slowly but carefully maneuver through the 10 hour plus drive to the Sunshine State to tackle the newly re-paved 2.5-mile monster track Wednesday morning.

  Planning to test for the remaining two days (Wednesday and Thursday), the first open test of the New Year will mark the first tango for Louisville, Kentucky native Brian Rose at the wheel of the No. 4 Harris Trucking / Team ASE Toyota Camry at the newly re-paved DIS.

  Though Rose and his posse are new to ARCA, the team has some experience at the Daytona Beach, Fla. track. In 2002, the now part-time NASCAR driver competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season-opener at Daytona, qualifying an impressive fourth, leading several laps and finishing a career-best and stout third in the No. 4 Dodge Ram for Bobby Hamilton Racing.

  Nearly a decade later, Rose returns to the “World Center of Racing” honored to boast the No. 4 again while also hoping to make an early impression in the ARCA Racing Series.

  “We’ve been working hard for this test and despite the weather, we’re still here,” said Rose, who will attempt to make his first ARCA Racing Series start in next month’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona. “I have a great group of guys behind me and I think this test definitely will give us a baseline on which direction we’re heading.”   Rose continued, “I’m looking forward to competing in the ARCA Racing Series. It’s a great series and I’m embracing the opportunity to bring my new team to such a diverse series. This won’t be our only ARCA race in 2011, but we’re hoping to leave a lasting impression that will carry over into our next event.”

  ­­­­Danny Rollins, well respected in the NASCAR community will serve as the crew chief for Brian Rose Motorsports. Rollins was the man responsible for guiding the young-gun to his first career NASCAR top-five finish at Daytona (Fla.) Speedway nine years ago.

  Harris Trucking and Team ASE have leaped aboard as marketing partners in the No. 4 Toyota Camry for the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARS calendar, but the freshman team is planning to announce more supporters in the next couple of weeks leading up to ARCA’s biggest race of the season.

  About Brian Rose Motorsports (BRM):   From 2001-2010, Brian Rose competed in 41 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) events. Driving for successful car owners such as the late Bobby Hamilton Sr., Billy Ballew and Rick Ware, he has scored five top-10 finishes including a third place effort in his restrictor plate debut at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway after qualifying fourth in 2002. Rose has controlled the NCWTS field for 35 laps in four events.   A new decade means a new beginning. In 2011, Rose, a native of Louisville, Kentucky will re-brand himself in the racing world by launching his own team, Brian Rose Motorsports (BRM) near Louisville, Kentucky. With the intent to run a full platter of events in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), NASCAR Nationwide Series and Late Model events across the country, Rose is expected to blossom back to the top on and off the race track.

  Stay tuned for a new Brian Rose Motorsports website parked at BrianRoseMotorsports.com.

Mooresville, NC (January 11, 2011) The Rolex 24 at Daytona is the Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series’ opener set for Jan. 29-30 at Daytona International Speedway. 

The “World Center of Racing’s” all-new pavement, combined with the largest number of Roush Yates engines in the event’s premier class, including an entry that set an unofficial track record during testing,  are sure to make this year’s race the most exciting ever.  

During the “Roar Before the Rolex 24” practice session this past weekend, Ford driver Ryan Dalziel ran an unparalleled lap with an elapsed time of 1:39.973 using his Roush Yates-powered engine, unofficially breaking the track record for a Daytona Prototype (DP) class  for a lap around Daytona International Speedway’s 3.56-mile, 12-turn speedway/road course.  

Dalziel is the reigning Rolex 24 winner and drove a BMW during the majority of the 2010 season, but decided to switch to Ford motors for the 2011 season. The switch is already paying off, and Dalziel couldn’t be more excited about his chances for a repeat victory with 2011 co drivers Mike Forest, Colin Braun, and Tomas Enge.  

“We are contenders, and we’ve proven that now” said Dalziel. “I think we could have gone faster. I didn’t put together a perfect lap, and we didn’t have a qualifying setup on the car. I know we’ve got more”.  

Car owner Peter Baron credits engineer Bill Riley for the success of the #8 Starworks Motorsport Riley Ford during Sunday’s practice session. Riley has been working on set up options since August of last year and both owner and engineer can’t wait until the January 29th race.  

“We spent a lot of time in the off season working on setup ideas with the new Continental tire and were anxious to test at Daytona for the first time with a Ford engine,” said Baron. “Setting the record at a horsepower track like Daytona is awesome. I’m more than impressed with the engine package Roush Yates has provided us with and I’m looking forward to our chances in the Rolex 24.”  

Roush Yates has a total of eight engines running in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the most of any manufacturer in the field. Ford teams Michael Shank Racing and Doran Racing were also at the top of the speed charts during last Sunday’s test session.  

Practice and qualifying for the Rolex 24 begins Thursday, Jan. 27th and the green flag waves at 3:30pm (ET) on Saturday, Jan. 29th.

About Roush Yates Engines Roush Yates Engines designs, engineers and crafts high performance racing engines with the power to perform and the horsepower and durability you’d expect from legendary NASCAR pioneers Jack Roush and Robert Yates. The partnership of power and precision has come from merging the knowledge and experience of two legendary engine builders, both with a passion for winning today and powering up for tomorrow. In 2009 Doug Yates purchased his father’s half of Roush Yates Engines to become a co-owner in the company.

As CEO, Doug Yates leads a staff of 180 engineers and technicians who design, assemble, test, and service racing engines at two separate state-of-the-art facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina. Here, the best minds and latest technology are hard at work producing nearly 1,500 racing engines each year for teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA, Grand-Am, FIA GT3, Dirt Late Model, Sprint cars, and NHRA Pro Stock. At Roush Yates Engines, the mission is Power Performance, which is achieved through innovation, design, precision engineering, and skillful craftsmanship. Building the best engines in racing today, providing service that’s second to none, and honoring a commitment to research and development are the heart of Roush Yates Engines.

Camping World Truck Series racer Justin Lofton will return to his roots this weekend, racing a Class 1 Unlimited buggy in the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin, Nevada.

  “Since the NASCAR season ended in Homestead, I’ve been working on getting everything ready for this race and for my charity golf tournament. I’m so excited to get back out in the desert. The race will be a lot of fun,” Lofton said.

  Before making the move to asphalt ovals, Lofton followed in his father Bob’s footsteps, racing in the open, sandy desert. The talent proved hereditary, with the younger Lofton also becoming one to reckon with in off-road racing. In 2004, he earned the Best in the Desert Rookie of the Year honors in addition to three wins in the Desert Buggy Class, as well as the Class 1000 championship.   This weekend’s SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is a three-day event, which kicks off on Friday with practice, followed by the Laughlin Leap. The race itself will take place on Saturday and Sunday. The starting positions for the event are electronically drawn, with Lofton drawing seventh in Class 1 Unlimited. Sunday’s starting position will be based on the finishing position from Saturday.

  Over 100 racers and 20 classes will participate in the event, racing over a 6.25-mile course. The final positions are determined based on the number of laps and overall time each entry has logged spanning the two-day run. Rusty Szymanski will be along for the ride, serving as Lofton’s navigator.    “It’s been a few years since I’ve raced in the desert. I’m real excited about getting back out there. We’ll see what we can do,” Lofton added.

  Lofton’s partners for the event include Lofton Cattle, BF Goodrich Tires, MasterCraft Safety, JIMCO Racing, and Rusty’s Motor Car Inc.   Following this weekend’s SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, 24-year-old Lofton will prepare for his inaugural charity golf tournament on January 22nd. The event will be held in Brawley, California with all proceeds benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Imperial Valley. The event includes a golf tournament, awards dinner, auction, and a concert. More information about the tournament is available on www.LoftonRacing.com.   For more information on this weekend’s event, visit www.score-international.com Follow Justin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jlracing ###  

________________________________ Amanda Brahler Justin Lofton Media Relations PH: 704.650.4527 Email: mandy@justinloftoninc.com LoftonRacing.com – twitter.com/jlracing

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.) – Venturini Motorsports has made a habit of exhibiting raw power in ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards testing sessions, and 18-year-old Kyle Fowler helped the organization continue that custom this afternoon. 

Fowler, of Smyrna, Ga., drove the No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet to a lap of 48.791 seconds (184.460 mph) in the afternoon session to lead the opening day of testing at the historic 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.

“I didn’t expect that. This is my first time here, but the guys have been putting a lot of hard work and effort into it. I’m certainly pleased with it, obviously,” Fowler said.

Fowler looked ahead to Wednesday’s test sessions, which will feature single-car runs in the morning and drafting practice in the afternoon.

“We’re going to try a couple different things. The car’s handling outstanding so we just basically have to get me comfortable in the draft. That’s going to be a new experience for me, so we’ll see if we can get ready for the race here,” Fowler said.

“Restrictor plate racing is absolutely different than anything I’ve ever done. It was something to take those first few laps around this place, considering how much history it has. It was incredible.”

Venturini Motorsports posted each of the day’s top three speeds and four of the top eight, so far pleasing team general manager Billy Venturini, and matching last season’s effort which saw the ARCA stalwart lead in preseason Daytona testing with driver Mikey Kile.

“We have high expectations when we go plate racing. We’ve worked really hard since the week after (last season’s finale at) Rockingham, so it’s always good to see your hard work pay off. I hope we can make it all apply when we come back for the race,” Venturini said.

Arpin, who drove the No. 55 entry for Venturini last season, took the No. 25 Toyota to second at 48.796 seconds (184.441 mph). Martin, driving the No. 55, finished third for the day at 49.141 (183.146 mph). Mark Thompson drove Venturini’s No. 66 entry to eighth on the overall chart.

“I only had the afternoon to log laps in the 55 car, and the team really worked hard to give me a fantastic car. The track is fast, the car is fast, and I’m ready for days 2 and 3. The car feels good and we worked on several different setups today,” Martin said. “Daytona is a world-class track, and the repaving has made it even more challenging than before. It’s going to be really interesting to see the drafting practice over the next two days. We can easily take it three-wide for several laps with this surface.”

Tim George Jr. drove the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Development Chevrolet to the fourth position for the day at 49.201 seconds (182.923 mph). Chris Buescher, who led the morning session, finished the day fifth overall with a lap of 49.315 seconds (182.5 mph) in the No. 17 Roulo Brothers Racing Ford.

IndyCar driver Milka Duno finished the day sixth in advance of just her second ARCA Racing Series start, and rookie Ty Dillon was seventh. Grant Enfinger drove an Allgaier Motorsports entry to ninth overall, and Dakoda Armstrong rounded out the top 10.

The on-track action was slowed by only three minor cautions throughout the day.

Open testing for teams and drivers will continue Wednesday and Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.

The 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season will mark the sanctioning body’s 59th year of competition and begins with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 12. The event will air live on SPEED.

The complete 2011 event schedule is available at ARCARacing.com.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.