DuQuoin: Bryan Silas preview

Bryan Silas Confident About DuQuoin Dirt Race

DuQuoin, Illinois (August 31, 2007) - - Earlier this month ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) rookie driver Bryan Silas made his dirt track debut at the Illinois State Fairgrounds otherwise known as Springfield. During the quick 100 lap event, Silas shined.

Despite racking in a top-20 finish, the Stuart, Florida native showed his strength by inching his way forward and sitting collectively in the top-10 for nearly half of the event.

Now able to reflect on his first go-around in the dirt, Silas heads to the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Labor Day confident as ever and looking for another top-10 finish this season.

"I have a second chance," said Silas, driver of the No. 11 Nortrax-Shell Rotella T-Palm Beach Grading Chevrolet Monte Carlo. "Springfield was a lot of fun. We set our goal to finish in the top-20 and we accomplished that. However, as a driver, you are always looking for more. On Monday, I look to repeat our performance on the dirt, but reward my guys with a finish they can cheer about."

When asked to compare the dirt racing to the rest of the season's schedule, Silas offered, "As a driver, I only think driving on the dirt can help you. Last weekend at The Milwaukee Mile, the cars tended to slide a little bit coming out of turn four, which reminded me a lot of Springfield. I haven't seen the DuQuoin track, but I've heard the dirt tracks are very similar. If history repeats itself I've run a lot better on similar tracks the second time around. I hope Monday's race shows that."

With the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series season slowly winding down, Silas knows he still has some unfinished business in his rookie campaign, but overall he has been happy with the performance of his Fast Track Racing team.

"It's been a good year," he said. "We've made a lot of improvements since the beginning of the year and even though we've lacked with some of the finishes, our performances have been outstanding. Racing is a luck sport too. You need a little luck to bring everything together and that's something we've been fumbled on. It's been more than just one occasion. We've set some season-ending goals and I know with the great talent of people that I'm surrounded by we'll accomplish them without a problem."

Nortrax, Shell Rotella T, Holland Pump and Palm Beach Grading (PBG) will all sponsor the No. 11 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the 25th ARCA event held at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

"I've been told that these dirt races used to be televised. It's a shame that Monday's race isn't. It appears it's shaping up to be one of the best races of the season. A good run will benefit a lot of people including my team but especially my sponsors, so hopefully we won't disappoint them."

-credit: BryanSilasRacing.com