June 27, 2005 (Myrtle Beach, SC)

Ken Butler III took the No. 99 USAR Hooters ProCup Aaron’s Dream Machine to the Myrtle Beach Speedway this past weekend for the 250-lap event with high-hopes of a top-ten finish. Butler and the crew had tested there earlier that week and turned over 150-laps on the half-mile speedway gathering information on how the car reacted to the abrasive surface as the tires wore down. They left confident that their time there was well spent and looked forward to a good race.

Rain was an issue all day Saturday and eventually the race was postponed until Sunday at 3:30 PM. Teams had only one 45-minute practice on Sunday afternoon before the race and the crew worked hard to get a good setup on the car for KBIII.

Because of the Saturday’s rain, the competitors had to lineup by driver points, so Butler started 18th when the green flag dropped. KBIII was fighting a loose car early, but maintained his position by running the high-line around the D-shaped, ½-mile oval. Because of the abrasive asphalt on the track, as the tires wore down, Butlers loose condition was amplified. “You had to be careful not to spin the tires coming out of the turns and on restarts,” Butler said after the race. “The more the tires wore down, the more of a handful that car got.”

The heat and humidity of the Carolina coast took its toll on everyone at the track, but the drivers had to deal with the brunt of the heat. Having only two inlets for air inside the racecars, the heat was a test of endurance. “That was the hottest I have ever been in a racecar.” Butler said. “I was pouring more water down my firesuit than I was drinking.”

Butler persevered and picked up a couple of positions after the last pit stop late in the race to finish 15th. Shane Huffman won his fifth race of the year, followed by Clay Rogers, Toby Porter, Michael Ritch, and Mark MacFarland.

Because of his solid finish in Myrtle Beach, Butler gained two positions in the Championship Points standings to 20th and stepped up to fifth in the Rookie of the Year chase.

The next USAR Hooters ProCup race will be the Aaron’s 250 at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, NC, July 9, 2005. The Aaron’s 250 will mark KBIII’s ninth USAR race of the year, however, he will be joined by his brother Brett Butler as he makes his debut in the USAR ProCup Series Southern Division.