Driver of No. 23 Aaron's Dream Machine suffers though short track hard knocks

RICHMOND, Va. - Ken Butler III was so looking forward to racing a .75-mile oval like Richmond International Raceway this past weekend in the No. 23 Aaron's Dream Machine Chevrolet for R3 Motorsports.

And, up until lap 220 of the 250 lap race, he had overcome numerous obstacles before settling in and finding his rhythm at the track. Prior to that point, the Lilburn, Ga. native had overcome a difficult practice session which resulted in a 40th-place qualifying run. Then, a right-front vibration started in the car around lap 85 while running 28th.

A timely caution six laps later allowed KB3 to make a trip to pit road for assessment. The R3 Motorsports team quickly figured out it was a brake issue and not a loose wheel or tire problem. However, a miscommunication between the driver and crew caused Butler to return to pit road instead of staying out under caution on lap 97 just as the race returned to green.

Now two laps down to the leaders with only two other cars on that lap, he started to adapt to the track and find his rhythm and comfort level. Matter of fact, by 145 he was running times consistent with those in the top-20 positions.  

Between attrition and perseverance, Butler was able to move the Aaron's Dream Machine from 34th place to 26th in the running order. By lap 215, there were only 10 cars on the lead lap with the rest of the field down two to five laps.

While coursing through Turns 1 and 2 on lap 220, the back end of the No. 23 Chevrolet broke loose causing the left side of the car to make heavy contact with the outside wall. The car came to rest on the backstretch before Butler put down the window net and climbed from the car.

After a quick check over by the track's medical staff, Butler was released without injuries. Despite showing a 35th-place finish on the final tally sheet, KB3 was able to learn a lot about the tricky track of Richmond to use in the future.

Ken Butler III, driver: "Wow, what a night here at Richmond. We struggled in practice and then had that awful qualifying run which caused us to start in the back. We were able to stay out of everyone's way and not get caught up in other people's wrecks in the early going.

"When that vibration started, I thought the right-front wheel was going to end up coming off the car. But, we were able to take advantage of some cautions there and figure out it was a brake problem and not the tire. Once the brakes cooled down or I didn't get on them so hard, they were much better and the Dream Machine Chevrolet really did start to drive like a dream machine.

"They kept telling me on the radio that my lap times were getting better and better and, as proof, I was passing cars posted in the top-20 sometimes. But, we were stuck down all those laps after our goof up on pit road earlier.

"I was finding my groove and really started to enjoy the race when the back end just came out from under me there in Turns 1 and 2. Once it broke loose, I did all I could to keep it off the wall. But, it just went in there back end first then the rest of the left side followed.

"The guys on the crew did a great on pit road, in preparing the car and helping me to understand Richmond. I feel terrible we tore up the Aaron's Dream Machine and didn't get the finish we all deserved. All we can do is line it up and go for it again when I get back in the car."

The next race for Ken Butler III in the No. 23 Aaron's Dream Machine Chevrolet for R3 Motorsports is scheduled for Dover International Speedway at the end of May.