Article content“Bristol is a tough track. You’re always going and there’s not much time to think. But we saw Bristol as one of the better racetracks for me and the team.”Article contentButcher won’t be the only Nova Scotian in the starting grid. Caden Tufts will also make his NASCAR truck series debut at Bristol. In a Facebook post, Caden Tufts Racing said the Timberlea driver will race in the UNOH 200. Tufts was initially set to compete in Richmond, Va., last month but had to reschedule “due to technical and logistical issues.”Article contentImmediately after the Sept. 11 race, Butcher will head north to prepare for his next event in the ASA Stars national tour. The CorvetteParts.net Glass City 200 will be held two days later (Sept. 13) in Toldeo, Ohio.Article contentWith four wins in eight races this season, Butcher leads the ASA Stars national tour points standings by 92 points. He finished third in his last race, the Michigan 300 on Aug. 20.Article contentArticle content“I feel like I’ve had a really good year, and my confidence has been really high,” said Butcher, who has eight career victories on the tour. “It’s been a really good season.Article content“I just want to try and work my way up the ladder. I have built a great relationship with everybody at HFR. It’s the right fit.”Article content“Cole had been on our radar for the past few years,” Halmar Friesen Racing co-owner Stewart Friesen said in a news release. “I’ve watched what he’s been able to do against some of the toughest late model competition in the country and he’s been impressive.”Article content Cole Butcher celebrates after winning the Mike Stevens Memorial 200 Lap Super Late Model feature race held at Petty International Raceway in New Brunswick in 2022. – BRUNSWICK NEWS Tanya Everett PhotographyArticle contentButcher has been based in the U.S. for three years. He resides in Mooresville, N.C., which is home to many NASCAR racing teams and drivers, as well as racing technology suppliers. It has earned the city the nickname, Race City U.S.A.Article content“Life’s been pretty good down here,” Butcher said. “My wife and I had a baby. We just bought a new home. We have a bunch of wins this year. I can’t really complain.”Article contentArticle contentBut Butcher concedes it isn’t easy carving out a racing career south of the border.Article content“It all comes down to funding,” he said. “You could be the best driver in the world and not have anything to show for it, if you don’t have the funding. It’s unfortunate that it’s not based off talent like it should be. There are a lot of people up in the top series right now that probably shouldn’t even be racing street stock. It’s just how things go.Article content“But if Bristol goes good, it’ll probably open some doors for next year. We’re definitely trying to move up the ranks, but it’ll all come down to the cheque book.”Article contentDoes Butcher see a future for him in the NASCAR truck series?Article content“I’m pretty old, to be honest. It would be difficult,” Butcher said. “If I was 10 years younger, I’d probably be racing trucks already. Although I think late 20s to mid-30s is probably the peak age for drivers, when people are most mature and probably performing their best.”Article contentThe green flag for the UNOH 200 waves at 9 p.m. (AT) on Sept. 11, with coverage on FS1, the NASCAR Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.Article content“Hopefully this race helps with the resume for next year,” Butcher said. “The biggest thing is to finish, be on the lead lap, hopefully finish top 15, maybe top 10.Article content“But things could change. We could get there and be really good and competitive. My hopes are just to be on the lead lap, keep all the vendors on it and just learn as much as I can.”Article content
Nova Scotias Cole Butcher ready for NASCAR truck series debut at famed Bristol racetrack
