June 23, 2007
Matthews, NC

Seventh Top 5 of Season Moves Josh up in Points

It was only two weeks ago that Josh had one of the worst wrecks since joining the Allison Legacy Series while racing at Orange County Speedway. After completely rebuilding the car, the Butler Motorsports Team wasn’t sure what to expect as they headed to Myrtle Beach for the ninth race of the Allison Legacy Touring schedule. The team decided it would be wise to test the car on Friday, before the race Saturday, since there would only be a half an hour practice on race day. The Friday practice was a bit frustrating (since Crew Chief Blake Harris could only participate via phone) but it paid off as Josh and his dad worked out a very loose condition and got the car ready for Saturday. It became very obvious that Blake never has to worry about his job as Chris Butler told Josh after practice, “I have absolutely no interest in being your crew chief…thank God we have Blake.”

Saturday’s half hour practice went exactly the way the team wanted it to go as they had two short runs followed by a tire change and one shorter run and then parking the car with ten minutes left in practice to prepare for qualifying. Josh took the track 13th out of the 27 cars that would take time and his lap put the Horizon Technologies/Summitt Communications/Conterra Ultra Broadband #11 second on the grid at the time. Two more cars would better Josh’s lap and he would line up 4th for the 50 lap event.

When the Legacy Series runs with the USAR Hooters Cup cars, there is a 30 minute time limit on the 50 lap event and it became obvious within the first ten laps that we were going to hit that time limit. Josh found a hole on the start in the 5th position and rode there through the first two cautions before picking up 4th and 3rd on the next green flag run. When the caution flew the next time (on lap 25), the field was notified that they would cut the race to 30 laps. Josh got a great restart and was in pursuit of the second place car when caution flew again and that was the last chance we would get. The race ended under caution just 27 laps in with Josh finishing in the 3rd position.

The top three finish moved Josh up to 2nd in the Allison Legacy Touring Series point standings and cost us very few points on the leader, who finished the race in second. This was one of the two races that Josh proudly displayed the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on his #11 Monte Carlo as he had the “Light the Night Walk” on the hood. The car, and Josh’s great run, gave the announcers a lot of opportunity to talk about the charity and Josh’s interview after the race gave the crowd even more information about the worthy cause. For more information on The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society…and “Light the Night Walk” go to www.leukemia-lymphoma.org

Josh on Saturday’s run: “It was so satisfying to have the car run that good after all the work that Blake, dad and I put into it. We didn’t get the car back from Allison’s until late Friday and didn’t start working on it until Saturday afternoon. The car was in more pieces than when we had it apart over the winter…there was a lot of work to do. We spent about 40 hours from Saturday to Thursday putting that car back together and getting everything just right…to have it run like it did tonight and to get to move up to 2nd in the points made it all worth while. It seems like I say this every week…but I can’t thank Blake enough for what he does. There was no way he was going to let that car leave the shop on Thursday night unless it was perfect, I feel there really is no one better with those cars.

We had “Light the Night Walk” on the car on Saturday and I’m glad we ran well and got some exposure to such a great cause. Now we get to go back to Orange County Speedway for the Mid Season 75 lap Championship. I’m not sure how many ways one race track can disappoint a team…but that place has really been tough on us. We are more committed than ever to going there Saturday and competing for the win…that first win is coming we can all feel it. We keep putting ourselves in position to win and it will happen…we still have a goal of getting multiple wins this year.”

The Allison Legacy Touring Series heads to Orange County Speedway this Saturday to compete for the Mid Season Championship. The 75 lap event will have qualifying around 5:30 and the green flag falling at approximately 7:00pm. Check back next week for results!