CHINA GROVE, NC (April 14, 2009) – Ken Butler III knew the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series season was going to be an uphill-learning curve being a part-time rookie driver. The best he and the R3 Motorsports team can hope for at each new curve is it to be a quick study toward success.
That will be tested this weekend when the Lilburn, Ga. native makes his first start at the tricky track of Phoenix International Raceway. Located in the foothills of the desert, the one-mile oval is known for its flat turns and the demand it puts on a team’s set-up knowledge.
Butler will utilize every bit of the two-hour, pre-qualifying practice session to its fullest Friday morning to prepare for the race later that evening. Aiding in his endeavor will be some video aides through video games and past race tapes. Either way, when the checkered falls on Friday night, KB3 and the No. 23 Aaron’s Dream Machine Chevrolet will have endured another lesson in their early careers.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR TRACKS YOU’VE NEVER RUN BEFORE: “That’s a good question. Well, I actually utilize video games and play NASCAR 09 so I can at least get an idea of what the track is like. I can use the game to get an idea of what to expect in the turns and how to enter and exit them in each corner. I also watch tapes from previous races and of some guy’s qualifying runs they’ve done at Phoenix before, too. But, nothing, and I mean nothing, can compare to actually getting out on the track in the No. 23 Aaron’s Dream Machine Chevrolet. I know the R3 Motorsports team will have a good car, now it’s up to me to use it to its potential.”
ONCE YOU DO GET ON THE TRACK, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO LEARN: “I’m going to get behind some of the veterans and see how they attack and exit the turns. Then, I’m going to see how my Aaron’s Dream Machine reacts when I try the same things. We all have different driving styles; I just need to figure out what works best for me. Each turn and straightaway is different and I need to figure out how I can get the most out of my car in each one.”
THIS WILL BE YOUR FOURTH NNS RACE OF THE YEAR, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THAT HAS BEEN A SURPRISE: “There really hasn’t been anything that has really, really surprised me because I’ve been watching and preparing to race in the Nationwide Series for awhile. I knew the level of competition was going to be higher, and that has been the case in each race. In addition to the Nationwide regulars, we have Cup regulars we race against each week, too. Not only can I learn from them, but it raises your level of competition and increases the learning curve, too.
TALK ABOUT YOUR SEASON TO DATE: “I think I’m getting better and the team is getting better, too. I think it’s a case of time and the more we spend with each other and races we do, the better we’re all going to get. We’re getting to where we need to be and the support of Aaron’s, everyone at R3 Motorsports and my family has been a huge help.” NOTE – In three starts to date, Butler’s best finish was 17th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and start of 24th at California Speedway.
TUNE IN FOR THE WIN: Speed TV will carry Qualifying at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on Friday. But, you need to switch over to ESPN2 at 9 p.m. later that night for all 200 miles and laps of the race. MRN Radio and Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio Ch. 128 will carry it live, as well.
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