| Butler Brothers in Orlando |
| Orlando Speed World was playing host for 2005 Winternationals in Orlando, Fl. This Winternational series consisted of Open Wheel Lites, Modified Lites, Pro Challenge and FMCRA Mini Cups. Aaron’s is the Official sponsor of the Pro Challenge Series. The Aaron’s Dream Team has three drivers for this series. Ken Butler III drives the 99 car, Brett Butler drives the 00 car, and the newest member of the Aaron’s Dream Team is Mike Foy, which drives the 98 car. Foy was an ASA driver alongside KB III last year and quickly became friends. Soon after, Foy was asked to drive the 98 Aaron’s car for the Pro Challenge Series this season. |
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The Aaron’s Sports Marketing team was onsite for pre-race festivities. The team set up an Aaron’s Store Front inflatable that was 35 feet. The team had set the inflatable up so race fans had to walk through it before they bought their tickets for the race. Next to the inflatable was the Aaron’s tent set up with the register to win the chance for a ’55 Chevy, trip to Texas Motor speedway, and a Michael Waltrip autographed helmet. The fans that registered would also have a chance to be chosen to wave the green flag before the Aaron’s Pro Challenge main event. The fans that registered received a goodie bag filled with Aaron’s giveaways like t-shirts, koozie’s, autograph cards, Aaron’s noise makers etc. |
The Aaron’s marketing displayed the Aaron’s brand all over the track, from the main gate to the ticket window, to inside the track and in the pit area.
| The Aaron’s Pro Challenge race started on Thursday February 10th and ended on Saturday February 12th. The Aarons Dream Team drivers made all three of these days very exciting with there driving on the race track. On Thursday, which was just a practice race, the 00 car driven by Brett Butler was spun out and backed into turn one and destroyed the rear and was t-boned. Brett was able to fix his car and was back in the race and finished 13th that night. The 99 car driven by Ken Butler III, started 9th and finished 9th. His car was very tight all race and pushed the corners. The 98 car driven by Mike Foy started 23rd and finished 25th. Foy’s front left caliper stuck and prevented Foy from having the speed he wanted from the 98 car. On Friday things became more interesting because the drivers were driving for points. The 00 car started in the back of the field got tangled up in an accident and ended up on top of another car. |
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| Butler survived the wreck with little damage and went on to finish the race 13th. The 99 car started the race in 9th, this race ended up being the most exciting of the whole weekend. KB III and another driver began trading paint for the last three laps of the race and Butler pushed by the 5 truck to go on and finish 3rd. Things got even more exciting with a controversial pit area after the race. The Aaron’s 98 car started in the back of the field got spun out in turn three lost a sway bar and burned out his starter. This was very disappointing for Foy and he had to come in for the night. |
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Saturday was a day of bad luck for the Aaron’s Dream Team. The 00 car started 4th and his car was so tight Brett had to come in because he was having issues with controlling the car. The 99 car was running his practice laps and blew up his engine. But a valiant effort by Chris Doran and his crewmembers of the 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine, they were able to replace the motor in less than two hours. In the nick of time the 99 was ready for the race, Butler had to start last and went on to finish 5th. This was an outstanding job by the whole 99 Aaron’s team to go through what they did, start last and finish 5th. The 98 Aaron’s Dream Machine blew an engine during qualifying and was sidelined for the rest of the night. |
The next Pro Challenge race will be held in Valdosta, Ga. on March 12th. |
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