JAMES RIVER, N.S. — Cole Butcher officially doesn’t “suck” at Riverside International Speedway anymore.
Butcher, of Hantsport, Hants County, won the hotly contested Lucas Oil 150, Sept. 14, at the short-track oval in James River; his second win this season at Riverside after capturing the 50th season opener – the Ceilidh Honda Triple 50s – in June.
“I used to suck here, I still suck here,” Butcher said, matter-of-factly, after capturing the checkered flag for his third win on the 2019 Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour season.
“We got lucky last race, but we were good this run,” Butcher, who was quick to praise his team, as well as track officials and race organizers, added.
“We had a better car on the outside than the inside but everything fell our way, somehow; the #31, #11 and #67… it was one hell of a battle,” he said, referring to cars run by Chris Reid, Mary Prevost and Dylan Blenkhorn, respectively, each out front at various times during the race.
Reid, who led for 64 laps, finished sixth, while Blenkhorn, the tour points leader with one race to go, finished second.
“Eventful,” Blenkhorn quipped when asked about the race.
“The second to last restart the clutch went out of the car and I didn’t know what happened. We figured that out and then, hit the wall a little bit … car was overheating. I was just lucky to finish the race, honestly.”
The Truro driver has a 22-point advantage over Jonathan Hicken, who finished third at the Lucas Oil 150, heading into the season finale; the Atlantic Oliver Tire 200, set for Sept. 28 at Scotia Speedworld in Enfield.
Antigonish’s Donald Chisholm finished in eighth place at Riverside’s final event of the season – the track’s 50th anniversary. A fireworks show concluded the night’s festivities.
“So far, so good,” Butcher said when asked about his season.
“Three wins, a couple of DNFs which is unfortunate, but, racing part-time, I’ll take it,” he added, noting he was headed to Charlotte, North Carolina in the morning.
“Put our focus on racing down in the southern series next weekend, so we’ll see what happens there,” he said.
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The Napa Sportsman Series kicked off the show with their 2019 season finale prior to the Lucas Oil 150.
Brad Eddy came home first followed by Colby Smith and Dale Richardson, to round out the podium.
Bedford’s Matt Vaughan was awarded the NAPA Sportsman Series Championship title.
The Passione Flooring & Interiors East Coast Mini Stock Tour also finished off its season at Riverside in the afternoon.
Andrew Warren was on top of the podium followed by Tim Webster and Steve MacPhee.
Dave Matthews from Nine Mile River, Municipality of the District of East Hants, was crowned the 2019 champion.
