CHINA GROVE, NC (Feb. 19, 2009) – Ken Butler III, better known as KBIII, is finally getting his own dream come true by piloting the famous Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine in NASCAR competition. Through R3 Motorsports, Butler will be making his first NASCAR Nationwide Series attempt in the Stater Bros 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. this weekend.
Butler has been honing his skills in the ProChallenge, ARCA, ASA, USAR Pro Cup and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series leading up to this point. Having earned three wins, four poles, 19 top-fives and 39 top-10s through the past six years; the Lilburn, Ga. native is ready for bigger tracks and challenges.
With no time like the present, Butler will climb into the No. 23 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine Chevrolet. Scheduled for 18 NNS starts this year, he will be sharing seat duties with Robert Richardson, Jr. His life has already been busier when he married his wife, Jamie, in the off-season. The couple is expecting their first child during the summer. Now, he’s taking on the responsibility of becoming a NASCAR Nationwide Series competitor.
The 2003 graduate and two-time letterman of the AAAAA Georgia State Football Champion Parkview High School Panthers (undefeated at 15 – 0 in his senior year) is ready for the new challenge.
ON MAKING YOUR NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES DEBUT: “I’m looking forward to finally making my first start in the Nationwide Series. I’ve been watching Michael Waltrip and David Reutimann race in the series for the past few years. I am very eager to race this weekend in California for many reasons.”
SHARE A FEW OF THEM: “First, I can’t thank the guys at R3 Motorsports enough for working with me to make this happen. Everyone has been working hard back at the shop and what Robert Richardson, Robert Richardson, Jr. and Rob Fuller (the three R’s) have put together is very impressive. Second, none of this would have been possible without the help from all the great people at Aaron’s.
GOALS FOR THE RACE: “One of the main objectives for me is to learn. I want to learn everything I can during practice, qualifying and the race. There are a lot of talented drivers out there and this is my chance to learn from them, as well. The two main objectives I have are to finish the race and earn respect from my fellow drivers. There are going to be a lot of Cup regulars in there and I’m looking forward to racing with them.”
REPRESENTING AARON’S: “If you’ve been watching races for the past few years then you’ve all seen my dad, Ken, doing the Aaron’s commercials with Michael Waltrip, Darrell Waltrip and David Reutimann. Now that my career has progressed for me to run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, it means a lot to me to have Aaron’s on board. I’m hoping to represent them well and be as successful as they have in their business.”
TUNE IN FOR THE WIN: Qualifying for the Stater Bros 300 is on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (ET)/9:30 a.m. (PT). Race action can be seen on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. and heard on MRN Radio and SIRIUS/XM NASCAR Radio Ch. 128
Aaron’s Sports Marketing Director – Rich Lamprey – 404-915-1683 - Richard.Lamprey@aaronrents.com
R3 Motorsports Media Relations Contact for Ken Butler III – Tim Packman - 704-507-1838 – timpackman@yahoo.com