Cole Butcher: Journey from Bandolero Champion to Oxford 250 Defending Winner
July 21st, 2023
Cole Butcher is a second-generation racer, following in the tire tracks of his father, Darrin Butcher, who raced and captured wins in the 90s. This racing background sparked an early interest in motocross-style dirt bike racing for the young Butcher. However, his destiny lay on the asphalt, and taking to car racing, made his debut in the Scotia Speedworld Bandolero division in 2006; his father being the one to bring Bandolero racing to Nova Scotia that year.
In 2010, Butcher really announced his presence in Bandos in style. He clinched victory in 9 out of 11 starts over the summer, a feat that earned him the Scotia Speedworld track series Bandolero division championship title, an impressive milestone for the young racer.
Butcher's hunger for victory wasn't satiated. He dominated the Legends division in 2012, capturing both the Scotia Speedworld track series championship and the Maritime League of Legends touring series championship. It was also during this banner year that Cole got his first taste of Pro Stock racing, running some testing laps, expanding his skills in a new class of vehicle, just a hint of the career that lay ahead. His prowess behind the wheel of a Legend car also led him to the INEX circuit in the US, marking his foray into international racing.
Two years later, Butcher dominated the Scotia Speedworld track series Legends division again, taking the championship, and along the way finding victory lane 7 times. All told, he won the Scotia Speedworld Legends division championship in 2012, 2013, and 2014. This series of achievements marked him as a rising star in the Maritime racing world.
A significant marker in Butcher's career was his inclusion as a finalist in the prestigious Kulwicki Driver Development Program. The program, named after the late Alan Kulwicki, the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, provides resources and guidance to promising young drivers, further proving Butcher's status as a driver to watch.
2013 was also significant for marking Cole's move to full-bodied cars, debuting and running the full schedule of the Maritime Pro Stock Tour. Despite being new to this division, he made a solid entrance by finishing 10th in the standings and achieving 7 top 10s in his 12 starts. Not one to rest on his laurels, Cole bettered his record in his sophomore year, amassing 7 top-5s and 11 top-10s, and finishing 4th in the points standings.
2015 was a landmark year for Cole as he made his Pro All Star Series (PASS) & Oxford Plains Speedway debut. He faced initial setbacks, failing to qualify in a race that featured almost 50 entries. But true to his nature, Cole persisted and succeeded in qualifying for the Oxford 250 on his first attempt, amid a field of 80 entries, eventually finishing in 17th place.
Back on his home turf, Butcher placed second in the Maritime Pro Stock Tour points in his third season, falling short of series veteran Donald Chisholm by a mere 9 points. His breakthrough came when he secured his first series win in a 150-lapper at Scotia Speedworld, marking a significant shift in his career, and first of 2 wins that season.
The following year, 2016, was a testament to Butcher's growing mastery piloting a Late Model. He triumphed in a season that saw him amass 3 wins, including the prestigious CAT 250 at Scotia Speedworld where he led for 182 out of 250 laps. It was also 2016 where he first drew attention to his name in the USA, with his 6th place finish in his debut in the prestigious Snow Flake 100 at Five Flags Speedway during Snowball Derby week.
In 2017 he again caught attention south of his border, finishing runner-up in his debut at the Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motorspeedway.
Despite running an incomplete schedule at home in 2017 and 2018, he finished within striking distance of the title. Running 11 of 12 races in 2017, he was 1 point shy of the championship, he scored a top-10 in all 22 of 24 starts in those years, and won his second championship by a nearly 80-point margin in 2018.
He continually tested his mettle at Oxford. In 2017, he secured a 5th place starting position in the Oxford 250, consistently qualifying for the race in subsequent years. By 2019, he had notched an Oxford best finish of 2nd place in a 150-lapper, secured his first PASS victory at the comfortable Maritime track of Petty International Raceway, and figured out the challenging Oxford 250, with a 6th place finish.
In a very short 2020 season, Cole ran the 2 race Maritime Pro Stock schedule, winning one of them, and clinching his third championship. His winning streak continued into 2021, securing an impressive 4 wins and 8 top-5s, in 9 races. He finished second in points to red hot Craig Slaunwhite, who would go on to repeat as points leader in 2022.
In 2022, much of the Maritime racing focus for the team shifted towards his younger brother, Jarrett Butcher, as Cole reminded everyone of his ascent in PASS, returning from COVID with another 2nd place Easter Bunny 150, and later a staggering streak of 4 PASS wins in 5 starts, including the 49th Oxford 250.
As the racing world eagerly awaits the 50th running of the Oxford 250, featuring a $50,000 USD to win reward + lap money, Cole Butcher looks to defend his victory. As we gear up for the Oxford 250, it remains clear: Cole Butcher in his red #53 will take a break from his consistent, strong performance with in his Donnie Wilson #28 in the revitalized, legendary ASA National Tour series schedule to head to Maine, where he will be a car to watch.
