Defending ASA STARS National Tour and ASA Southern Super Series champion Cole Butcher is being promoted to a full-time seat in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, joining forces with ThorSport Racing.
The 29-year-old driver will be piloting the No. 13 Ford F-150 for the Sandusky, Ohio-based organization, beginning with the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 13.
The news is out! I’ll be competing full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2026, driving the No. 13 Ford F-150 for @ThorSportRacing.
Extremely grateful for this opportunity and everyone who helped make it happen. Truck scheme coming soon. pic.twitter.com/uZRxxDk0FR
— Cole Butcher (@ColeButcher_) January 15, 2026
Butcher, a Super Late Model standout from Porters Lake, Nova Scotia, will be competing for Rookie of the Year (ROTY) honors this season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Duke, Rhonda, and Allison Thorson for giving me this opportunity in 2026,” said Butcher. “This team has a long history of success and championships, to be trusted with the No. 13 Ford F-150 full-time is something I don’t take lightly. I’m excited for what’s ahead and ready to get to work with this group.”
Partnership announcements for Butcher and the No. 13 Ford F-150 will be made at a later date.
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign will mark the first full-time season in one of NASCAR’s top-three divisions for Butcher, who has spent the last three years as a dominant force across the ASA STARS National Tour and other forms of Late Model racing across the United States.
Last Fall, Butcher dipped his toes into the NASCAR Truck Series for the first time, running a two-race stint in the No. 62 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Halmar Friesen Racing — collecting a pair of 23rd-place finishes at Bristol and Phoenix.
In addition to the ASA STARS National Tour, Butcher has also been to Victory Lane in ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Southern Super Series, CARS Pro Late Model Tour, PASS North Super Late Model Series, and PASS National Championship Super Late Model Series, amongst several others.
Butcher will make his ThorSport Racing debut in the No. 13 Ford F-150 at Daytona International Speedway. The Canadian driver will take to the racetrack on Friday, February 13 at 7:30 PM ET on FOX Sports 1, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
