August 11, 2007
Matthews, NC
Major Changes to Remainder of 2007 Announced by Butler Motorsports
Butler Motorsports announced today that they would be shutting down their Allison Legacy operation with driver Josh Butler, effective immediately, and at the same time announced an agreement with EDS Motorsports of Brookfield, OH to run Josh in a USAC Sprint Car in 2008. The Butler team was 4th in the Allison Legacy Touring Series points (down from their high of 2nd two weeks ago) but it was decided late in the week that the opportunity with EDS Motorsports was too good of a chance to pass up and the team made the tough decision. “We hate to not run Josh the rest of this year in the Legacy car” said Josh’s dad Chris Butler “but opportunities to drive a USAC Sprint Car don’t come along every day and in the end it was absolutely the right decision. Ed Dellarco (owner of EDS Motorsports) has great equipment and to give Josh the best chance to compete in 2008, they really need to test together at the end of 2007. Pulling Josh out of the Legacy car will gives him the chance to spend as much time as possible up in Ohio and will get him the seat time he needs to be ready for next year. They can’t test all winter up north like we do down here in North Carolina…so it was important to get Josh up there right away.”
Josh tested a USAC Midget car in Kenly, NC on July 21st …a car that Ed Dellarco brought down from Ohio…and that test went well, prompting more serious discussions about running the asphalt portion of the USAC schedule in 2008. “Josh is a very talented young man and showed it during the Kenly test.” said Ed Dellarco “Once he got the feel for the Midget he ran some outstanding laps…I’m impressed with how quickly Josh adapted to a car that he has never been in, he is very focused and it showed.” Butler Motorsports is working to secure sponsorship that will allow the team to purchase the Midget that Josh tested in Kenly (and run it under the EDS banner) so that Josh can run both cars during the 2008 season. Josh’s dad commented that, “seat time is what is most important for Josh right now and if we can get him in both the Midget and the Sprint it will give him an even better chance to be successful…we hope to have a deal done quickly that will allow us to buy the Midget and then we will have even more announcements to make.”
Since Josh will be spending more time up in Ohio, where most of his extended family lives, Josh is going to be running more dirt E-mod races at the end of 2007. “I’m going to be up there a lot” said Josh “so I might as well race Uncle Mike’s car as much as possible and get more experience on the dirt and in that car.” Josh’s next race is expected to be Friday, August 11th at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, OH and then again the next night at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH.
Josh on joining EDS Motorsports and running USAC in 2008: “I’m extremely excited for the opportunity that I am going to have with Mr. Dellarco to run his Sprint car next year. Mr. Dellarco has great equipment and seems like a great owner…his cars have run well in the past, so I hope to be able to come in next year and run competitively right away. It’s not everyday that you can get the chance to run in a series that so many great racecar drivers have come from over the years. When I think of USAC drivers my mind automatically floats to Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Kasey Kahne, drivers that I hope to race against someday, so I’m extremely happy to be able to run in such a high profile series.
When my dad gave me the choice to continue running the Legacy, or to go spend time in Ohio getting the Sprint ready for next year and testing it as much as possible, it was an easy choice for me. The Allison Legacy Series is a great series, but if I plan on being competitive in the Sprint next year I’m going to need all the seat time I can get. I hope that by the beginning of next season I’ll be able to jump into the Sprint and race with some of the best drivers in the country without worrying about not having enough time in the car.
I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity and to have such great sponsors that let me take advantage of things like this. I can’t thank our sponsors enough…its companies like Horizon Technologies, Conterra Ultra Broadband, Summitt Communications, The Hall Institute and Boardman License Bureau that make it possible for me chase my dream and I hope to continue to represent them well with this latest move.”
EDS Motorsports USAC Sprint Car
