Cole Butcher has raced with Wilson Motorsports since 2016 when he competed in the Snowflake 100 at Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway, making periodic starts in the States with the team while also contesting a full schedule of races in the Canadian Maritimes and the Northeast United States.
After expanding his super late model schedule with the team in 2022, he got the nod to run the full ASA STARS National Tour season in 2023.
The Porter’s Lake, Nova Scotia native currently sits third in the ASA STARS standings, the highest of the drivers yet to win a race. While he has yet to visit victory lane with the series, he has three top-five finishes in the first five races, including a second at Milwaukee and a third at Hickory. In addition, he has collected 72 stage points, fourth among all drivers.
“I think it’s been pretty good, we’ve had our ups and downs. We had the DNF at Madison when we could’ve came out of there with a top-five, top-ten,” Butcher said. “But we’ve had a couple top-three finishes on the year and we’re heading to Anderson, which is one of my favorite tracks. We’re looking forward to it.”
The Redbud 400 will be Butcher’s second appearance at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. He led just over 100 laps in last year’s Redbud before finishing eighth.
He will do so as a teammate to Hickory winner Gio Ruggiero, who is also racing for an ASA STARS National Tour championship. Wilson Motorsports has two full-time cars in the series, while fielding as many as four cars in each of the last three races.
With teammates aplenty for Butcher, he mentions the advantages of going to the track with extra help.
“There’s a lot going on, a lot of people. It’s nice going to the racetrack with a bunch of cars because you can find balance quicker. They work their butts off at the shop and I can’t thank them enough. Every time we show up to the racetrack we’re there to win and we’re capable of winning.”
Butcher has won his fair share of races over the years in both the United States and Canada, having won last year’s Oxford 250 and sweeping two Pro All Stars Series races at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway back in March in family equipment. However, he has yet to secure his first win with Wilson Motorsports. He has been close to winning with the team on several occasions, most notably in the Snowball Derby, where his worst finish in the last four races has been a sixth.
With five races left on the ASA STARS National Tour season, he looks to deliver car owner Donnie Wilson a checkered flag.
“It would mean the world to finally get a super late model win and check it off the box, especially with the ASA tour. Donnie’s been after me to get one for him for a couple years now and it seems like everyone else has a win. It would mean the world to me and my family, hopefully we can get it done here soon because it’s definitely time.”
The ASA STARS National Tour opened the ten race, six-state schedule at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. on March 11. Ty Majeski is the most recent winner, claiming the victory in the Father’s Day 100 at the Milwaukee Mile.
The event will be broadcast live by SPEED SPORT affiliate MidwestTour.tv.