CHINA GROVE, NC (April 7, 2009) – Ken Butler III and the No. 23 Aaron’s Dream Machine Chevrolet team are looking to top the charts in both qualifying and race results at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend. This is also the first of four NASCAR Nationwide Series stand-alone races involved in the Dash-4-Cash promotion.
Full-time NNS teams are eligible for a $25,000 bonus from Nationwide for winning this weekend’s race. At the end of the season, teams are eligible for an additional $50,000 handed out at the banquet for whoever has the best overall results.
Butler, of Lilburn, Ga, sat on the pole in last year’s ARCA race at Nashville before finishing in the top-10. KB3 hasn’t raced since early March at Las Vegas Motor Speedway because he and teammate, Robert Richardson, Jr., share driving duties for the R3 Motorsports team. The length of time between races has left Butler ready to go racing again.
Adding to the anticipation is the fact Butler will be making his first NNS start at Nashville. The 1.33-mile concrete oval has a challenging layout the rookie-of-the-year candidate enjoys racing
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE BETWEEN RACES: “The good part is I’ve been at the track every time trying to learn everything I can watching Robert Jr. race. I don’t like watching, but I understand that’s how it is set up for this year with my driving schedule. Jeff Fuller has been very helpful in showing me the little tricks to get around the different tracks and how to enter the corners. It’s been very helpful, now I just have to put it to use this weekend.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TRACK: “The track is a challenge because of the way it’s laid out. The tight corners and long straights make it run like a superspeedway. But, you have to negotiate both sets of turns differently. The track is concrete and that really adds to the unique fun of racing there. I like it and am looking forward to this race.”
HOW DO YOU RACE NASHVILLE: “I’m looking forward to the first practice so I can get a good handle on the track and how our Nationwide car will respond. I’m quickly realizing how important those first practices are for the team. I need to figure out what the car is doing and relay that to the crew. We’re trying to get a good baseline set-up before we get to the track. But, once you’re there is when the information becomes very important. We work on our qualifying a little bit and to see how the car handles in the turns. Qualifying is important for track position, but making it through all 225 laps is what we’re there for this weekend.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN NASHVILLE: “Actually, we are going to the Grand Ole Opry while we are there for the first time I’m really looking forward to seeing a show there. That place has so much history. I’m a HUGE country fan and the music of Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Brooks and Dunn are my favorites.”
FAN TO JOIN R3 TEAM FOR WEEKEND: As part of a radio contest and promotion by NASCAR, the R3 Motorsports team will have Ralph Williams joining them for the race weekend. He and his guest will take part in qualifying and pre-race activities at Nashville Superspeedway with the No. 23 Aaron's Dream Machine Chevrolet and Ken Butler III.
TUNE IN FOR THE WIN: ESPN2 has the final practice on Friday at 6 p.m. (ET). Qualifying is set for 11 a.m. on ESPN2 with the green flag later in the day at 4 p.m. on The Duece. MRN Radio and Sirius/XM Radio Ch. 128 will carry the live race action on 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