ARCAracing.com INTERVIEW
BUTLER LIKES HIS CHAMPIONSHIP CHANCES
Toledo OH (March 12, 2008) - After running a partial ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule in 2007, Ken Butler, III is full-ahead in 2008. The Sherrills Ford, North Carolina driver is not only excited about the new season, he's optimistic about his championship chances.
"I think we really have a good shot at the championship," said Butler, who drives Toyotas for Eddie Sharp Racing as a teammate to Formula 1 veteran Scott Speed. |
"If we can keep ourselves away from the wrecks, there's no reason we can't compete for the title. Running for Eddie Sharp, we've got the very best equipment. It's an awesome team, and I'm lucky to be part of it.
"I mean, I'm just glad I get to race. And I think the ARCA series is perfect for learning how to drive these cars. You get a little of everything here. You get to draft; you get to race on the mile-and-a-halves, the short-tracks and the dirt. This series is good for young guys like me to learn what this is all about.
"I've never run a road course before either, and outside of racing a go-kart on dirt, I've never done that before either; but I'm excited about all these new opportunities coming our way. I've always wanted to run a dirt late model, so I'm really looking forward to trying out the ARCA car on the dirt. I'm actually going to go to a road course school too before the race in New Jersey."
And that's not all. Butler will also be utilizing the complete ARCA RE/MAX Series test schedule.
"That's pretty much what I'm doing today. Outside of annoying some people here at the shop, we're putting some seats in getting ready for the Kentucky and Salem tests."
Butler will also be testing at Rockingham on March 21 and 22 and Iowa and Kansas Speedways in early April - all that before the next race event at Salem Speedway on April 13th.
Butler broke through big last year with a controversial victory at Toledo Speedway last May. Butler made contact with his teammate Michael McDowell with less than 10 laps remaining causing McDowell to spin from the lead. Butler went on to earn his career-first ARCA RE/MAX Series victory to a mix of jeers and cheers.
His finishes at Salem last year were not nearly as noteworthy, scoring a 33rd place finish in the April race before improving to 11th in the Fall Classic.
"I really like the track (Salem) because it's totally different than any other. But it's so crazy-hard to pass there. I don't think we had the right cars there last year. We're bringing a different car to Salem. It's the same car we qualified second with at Kentucky last year, so I think we're going to be in a better car this year at Salem."
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"I was three-wide at the time when I saw them wrecking in front of me. I thought to myself, ‘this is going to be big' and it was."
-Ken Butler, III on the season opener at Daytona |
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Butler's 2008 season also started out with some controversy when his #22 Toyota measured too low in post-qualifying tech. As a result, he had to take a provisional starting position in 34th. Things were going well in the race as he steadily moved up toward the front until that big wreck got in the way.
"I was three-wide at the time when I saw them wrecking in front of me. I thought to myself, ‘this is going to be big' and it was. We were almost through; then, at the last minute, someone hit me. But it wasn't a total loss. I really learned a lot out there. Once I got the hang of it, we were passing cars right and left. We had a top-three car for sure; we just didn't get the chance to show it."
Butler, with a badly-wounded racecar, soldiered home in 19th at Daytona. No matter, Butler's looking forward from here.
"I think we've got as good a shot at this championship as anyone, and more than most. I got to race on a lot of the tracks last year, so I know what to expect more. I'm really excited. I was grown up on short-tracks and we've got quite a few of those on the schedule.
"Really like Berlin. You had to use a lot of throttle control there, and I like that. Really love Kentucky. I'm just looking forward to the whole experience. Our sole focus this year is the ARCA RE/MAX Series. We're not planning on running anywhere else. We've got Wayne Carroll as the crew chief.
"We've got a good relationship and he's (Carroll) a workaholic. I don't think he's taken a day off since Thanksgiving. He's in the shop every day, weekends too. But that's one of the things I like about him. He wants to win more than anything, and is willing to do whatever it takes. I don't think a guy can be more dedicated to a race program than Wayne is.
"With the cars that Eddie Sharp provides and work-ethic you get from Wayne, with the great crew we've got, we can win this championship."
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