01-09-2006 09:00am - Longs, SC - Watching your brother do something that you'd like to be doing is tough. But for Brett Butler, the envy didn't escalate a sibling rivalry; he learned from it and hopes it will benefit him this year.

After observing his brother, Ken, compete for rookie of the year honors last season, Brett Butler will get his chance this season with the announcement that Michael Waltrip Racing will field a car for Butler in the Northern Division of the Hooters Pro Cup Series in 2006.

"I can't wait," said Butler, who will drive the No. 00n Dream Machine. "I wanted to be driving [in the Hooters Pro Cup Series] last year, but I think it's going to be a positive that I waited until this year. By not running, I was able to sit back and watch what they did."

But Brett wasn't sitting idle while his brother competed last season, he was busy racing himself.

At the start of '05, Brett competed in the Aaron's Pro Challenge Series before moving into Late Models at Hickory Motor Speedway.

"I really hadn't driven any big cars before last season," said Butler. "I think I'll be more prepared for Pro Cup because I ran Late Models last year."

His team will also be more prepared.

To start the '05 season, the newly-formed team struggled to start the season. But as the season wore on, their performance would strengthen. In just their fourth race together, Ken Butler III posted a 13th-place finish at Peach State (Ga.) Speedway. Ken would add five more top-15 finishes during the season and finished 17th in the ultra-competitive Southern Division.

While DNFs hurt the team in the Championship Series, the No. 99s team's upswing gives Brett reason to believe the first-year gremlins are gone.

"Just to see how the team progressed last year gives me confidence going into my rookie season," said Brett. "I'm not expecting to be the best at the beginning of the year, but we're hoping to be a contender for rookie of the year by the end of the season."

And reap the rewards from watching his brother for a year.