Concord, N.C. (October 16, 2009) – Ken Butler, III finished 35th after a wreck ended his night early in the Dollar General 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Friday Night.
After rain forced NASCAR to cancel the first practice session Thursday afternoon, Ken Butler, III and crew knew they had their work cut out for them as Lowe’s Motor Speedway is a tough track on rookie drivers. Rain finally cleared in time for one practice session Thursday night and Butler spent his time learning the track and adjusting on the car. The Aaron’s Chevrolet went out 13th in qualifying Saturday morning and posted the 37th-fastest time of the morning.
When the green flag waved Friday night, Butler quickly radioed to crew chief Steve Plattenberger that the car was too tight and plowing from the center off. When the first caution flew on lap 17, Plattenberger called the No. 23 Chevrolet into the pits from the 35th position and the Aaron’s team went to work, raising the track bar and taking rubber out of the left rear.
Racing resumed on lap 21 and the changes seemed to help as Butler was able to find his rhythm and climb into 25th position before the next caution on lap 61. During the caution Butler radioed that the car was still too tight, forcing him to back up the corners to get the car to turn so Plattenberger called the Aaron’s Chevrolet back to pit road for adjustments, changing four tires, fuel and a making a track bar adjustment.
When the green flag waved for the restart on lap 66, Butler lined up 27th, but luck would not be on his side as a wreck broke out in front of him and the 20 car hit him from behind as he tried to get the Aaron’s Chevrolet slowed down. The contact sent Butler into the wall hard, causing severe damage to the rear of the car. He was able to drive the camouflage-colored car back to the garage but the damage was too severe and the Aaron’s team would have to end the night early, relegating the team to a 35th-place finish.
Kyle Busch won the Dollar General 300, giving him his seventh Nationwide Series win of the season. Mike Bliss, Dave Blaney, Brian Vickers and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five.
Ken Butler III will next be behind the wheel of the No. 23 Aaron's Dream Machine on Saturday, November 14 at Phoenix International Raceway. ESPN2 will provide television coverage for the Able Body Labor 200 beginning at 4:00 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live on MRN Radio at 4:00 p.m. EDT.
Ken Butler, III: “Man, this is not what we wanted. The Aaron’s Outdoors Mossy Oak Chevrolet was really starting to come in and the crew was making some great adjustments. The car was pretty strong in the middle of the run. I just hate it that we didn’t get to finish the race.
I was just trying to get the car slowed down for that wreck and got hit from behind. It was just one of those deals. I hate it for Aaron’s and the team.”
About Aaron’s Inc.: Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,615 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s has been publicly traded since 1982.
Aaron’s Sports Marketing Director – Rich Lamprey – 404-915-1683 - Richard.Lamprey@aaronrents.com
Contact Tracy Olszewski at R3 Motorsports Media Relations – 704-785-6196 –tolszewski03@gmail.com