Butler Motor Speedway to kick off 60th season of racing

  Butler Motor Speedway will kick off its 60^th season of racing on April 28^th.  The 3/8 mile dirt oval in Quincy is scheduled to run the full four-in-one program of the Sprint Cars, UMP modifieds, Sportsman and Street Stocks.  The tentative schedule for 2012 shows many four-in-one programs, four confirmed mini sprint dates were added to make those five-in-one nights.  The Michigan Dirt Cup modified show on June 16^th, running on the same weekend as the NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway, will see some of the best in tri-state UMP modifieds, racing for the first place prize.  Joey Fowler collected the 1500 dollar payday in 2011.  The All Star Circuit of Champions will be the Speedway's largest nationally known travelling division to stop in this season.  The All Stars are slated to race on August 18^th, the same weekend as the August Nascar race at Michigan, and will post the fastest speeds the track will see this season.  Dale Blaney, is the defending All Stars Circuit of Champions Butler feature winner.  June 2 will see one of the fans events with the Autograph night and your chance to see the cars and meet the stars of the speedway, as the cars get brought out on the front stretch and the fans are allowed down on the track to meet there favorite drivers and get some photos and autographs.  On July 7^th the Speedway will host the Josh Hadley Memorial race, which will see bike giveaways for the kids.  On July 14^th the fan favorite event, the Fireworks show will take place.  This event will see the Speedway fill to capacity and have a full four-in-one program of racing with a huge fireworks display. July 21^st will see the regular four-in-one show featuring the old timers night, giving everyone a chance to see the stars from yesteryear.  The regular schedule for a Saturday of racing has the gates opening at 2 p.m., Hot laps starting at 6p.m. and racing starting at 7:30p.m. sharp.  General admission prices are:  Adults $12.00, Seniors and Veterans $10.00, Kids $5.00 with pit pass pricing at $25.00.  Pricing varies for special events.

  Bob and Karen Garrett enter the fifth season as the Promoters of the track and are hoping for a little more cooperation from mother nature for the 2012 season.  "The rain was very difficult for us, but otherwise things went very well in 2011" Garrett stated.  The track had 9 nights of rain outs and another 4 nights that had either rain prior to the racing or had threats of rain during the night.  "We are also trying very hard since we started as Promoters to start at 7:30 sharp and have everyone on the road at 11:00 p.m. after seeing a good night of racing" Garrett said.  The speedway has enforced a time limit for preliminary events to try to speed the events up and to try to meet the goal of getting the events in and getting everyone home at a reasonable time. Garrett stated "It doesn't always work out, but we try hard to have everything ready to go on time and to get through the show with minimal problems".

  The defending champions in all classes were Mark Aldrich in Sprint Cars, Mike Tarlton in UMP modifieds, Tim Wilber in Sportsman and Chris Garrett in Street Stocks. 

  Girard resident and Coldwater business owner Tim Wilber will contend for the 2012 UMP modified title after an extremely successful season in the Sportsman division, that saw him wrap up his 5^th Butler Motor Speedway championship.  "In 20 years of racing, that car was the most consistent car I ever had on a nightly basis" stated Wilber.  "Last year was a good year but a bad year because now your expectations become so high".  When asked about the track Wilber stated "The track prep was consistent all season long and you can see over this winter that the Garrett's continue to make a good effort towards improvements at the facility".