Cole Butcher Wins Back-to-Back ASA National Features
Image from www.starsnationaltour.com
April 5th, 2025
As the ASA STARS National Tour ventured into Virginia’s beautiful, modern Dominion Raceway facility for its first time—and for one of the only Super Late Model races held at the track at all, and the only one for several years—uncertainty loomed large. With minimal experience across the field, most predicted a narrow, bottom-dominant groove with little tire fall-off and limited passing opportunities.
While some of those expectations came to fruition, the 250-lap feature delivered more clean, respectful, green flag driving with a bit more passing than some may have anticipated, although pacing still certainly did not come easily.
Butcher & Crew Chief Bond Suss, the potent Donnie Wilson Motorsports combo, who started 5th based on his qualifying time, wasted no time making moves. He worked his way to the front during the opening stage, claiming the Stage 1 win before heading to pit road for adjustments. A few drivers—including #35 Jake Garcia—opted to stay out, gaining crucial track position in the process.
Restarting a handful of positions back for Stage 2, Butcher began to mount a charge once more. As he closed in on #81 Carson Brown for a potential pass within the top-5, he made contact with the outside wall. Though the scrape appeared to affect his pace a little bit, Butcher remained composed and strong.
Near the halfway point—around 125 laps to go and 50 laps from the Stage 2 break—Butcher ducked into the pits again. The move may have been twofold: to evaluate any potential damage and to execute a strategic tire change. Many teams had initially planned to wait for the Stage 2 break for fresh rubber, but there ended up a variety of strategies executed, and Butcher's crew chose an aggressive path, sacrificing some track position with 50 laps remaining in Stage 2, but potentially positioning himself strongly for the final stage.
Before long, Butcher clawed back to the front, passing all who had remained out. He swept both stages, and though the expectation of minimal tire degradation was likely part of the reason for his early stop, a variety of teams followed suit, taking tires before the final stage.
With 22 laps to go, cars on fresher rubber (taken with 50 laps to go, for a difference of about 50 laps on them)—including #96 Derek Thorn and Brown—began closing in or breaking even. Butcher had built a solid lead, but it was clear that the chase was on. Thorn appeared to be mounting the most serious late race challenge, having overtaken Garcia for 2nd place. But by the time 12 laps remained, Butcher's slightly older tires began to level out with the fresh sets chasing him. He began to reassert control, pulling away again, or setting similar lap times, and looking dominant in clean air.
With five laps to go, the #30 of Kyle Steckly was the only lapped car to come into view on the field, and one of few, if any throughout the very fast paced race to get passed by the leader. Steckly gave Butcher some room on the inside, and lapped traffic proved inconsequential to the outcome.
A potential late caution hung over the closing laps as a tantalizing 'what if,' but the race remained green through the finish.
In the end, Butcher crossed the line first—unchallenged and unbothered—securing his second straight ASA STARS National Tour victory, his 6th in the series, and bringing his STARS Tour Win Rate from 25% to 33.3%, reinforcing his status as a powerhouse in the National Super Late Model series (ASA), and in the scene as a whole. With momentum on his side and a growing name recognition, Butcher is fast becoming one of the greatest standouts in the discipline, taking over the series standing points lead in the process of winning Race #3.
