Racing is often a family affair, but that will be true in many ways for Cole Butcher throughout the 2024 season.
For starters, Butcher is sharing his No. 54 entry with brother Jarrett Butcher at the Easter Bunny 150 weekend on March 15-16 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Cole Butcher, who swept the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model races last year, will race on Friday. On Saturday, he’ll turn the seat over to Jarrett.
Last year, Jarrett Butcher won three races with the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour, finishing second in the series based in the Canadian Maritimes. He also finished third in the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway in 2020.
Now, he’ll have a shot to compete for a win in the opening weekend of the PASS Super Late Model season. Cole Butcher explained during an appearance on Racing America’s ‘The Bullring.’
“We’re going to do things a little different this year,” said Cole Butcher. “I’m going to race Friday and my brother’s going to race Saturday. Hopefully, it will be a Butcher 1-1.
“I wanted to give my brother a little bit more seat time, so I figured it’d only be fair.”
Pro All Stars Series Preparing for Easter Bunny 150 Weekend at Hickory on March 15-16
Cole Butcher has enjoyed plenty of success at the North Carolina bullring. Last year, Butcher swept the PASS doubleheader, finished second with the ASA STARS National Tour in the Tar Heel 250, and won a CARS Tour Pro Late Model event at Hickory.
However, with recent updates such as new pavement on and near pit road at Hickory Motor Speedway, Butcher is curious how many updates are due for his notebook on the track.
“In previous years, it was so rough, especially on the exit of four. You had to get the left-front right on the line but not drive into the pothole. This year, they’ve paved it, so you might be able to get a little bit lower and get the left-front on there and get some more grip.
“I haven’t been there yet this year. I know Hickory’s done a great job paving their infield, it looks great. I guess we’ll find out next Thursday whether my way works or if we’re going to have to adjust.”
He’s still confident that they’ll be able to find what they’re looking for based on his past success at the track and how much it suits his driving style.
“Between Wilson Motorsports, myself, Tyler Tanner, we’ve been pretty good there the last number of years. Whether it’s with CARS Tour, ASA or PASS, we’ve just built a great notebook and it’s one of my favorite tracks. It just goes with my driving style. You have to be self-disciplined not to burn the tires off and be there at the end.”
There’s also an outside chance that Jarrett Butcher will be in Cole’s car for one of the biggest races of the year, the Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. While Cole currently plans on competing for a third-straight Oxford 250 win, he and his wife are expecting their first child.
The due date? Oxford 250 weekend.
Butcher insists his car will be at the Oxford 250 on August 23-25. However, he is also certain that he will leave the race track to witness the birth of his first child.
“It is what it is. Some people say they’re early, some people say they’re late. My luck, it will probably be smack dab on that date and I will be there [with the child]. I was able to [win the Oxford 250] twice. It kind of takes the pressure off of me if my baby’s born that day.
“I don’t have to be there, but we all want to be at the Oxford 250. If it works out, great. If not, I’m going to be there for my first baby, be there with my wife. Someone will be in the 53, whether it’s me, my brother or somebody else. It’ll be there, just a matter of who’s going to be in it.”
No matter how things play out, late-August will be a special time of year for Butcher for even more reasons moving forward.
“We were at Southern National last weekend, I was with Tyler Tanner. He went up to me and was like, ‘You know the baby’s birthday is going to be the Oxford 250 every year.’ I never thought of that.”
