Lucky 13: Cole Butcher – Bristol

Lucky 13 rides along with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular who qualifies 13th, keeping an eye on how their race unfolds. This driver could be sent to the back of the pack and still pull off a victory, or their luck could take a nosedive early in the race. With luck on their side – or against them – anything can happen! So, grab your four-leaf clovers, your lucky horseshoes, and maybe even a rabbit’s foot for the latest Lucky 13! Will it be fortune or misfortune? Let’s find out!

Tennessee Army National Guard 250

Driver: Cole Butcher
Organization & Number: ThorSport Racing, #13
Crew Chief: Rich Lushes
Spotter: Joe White

Cole Butcher qualified P17; however, given the number of NASCAR Cup Series drivers ahead of him, we moved to the 13th regular driver in the series.

Stage 1

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers lined up to do battle at Bristol Motor Speedway. With the green flag in the air, Cole Butcher immediately lost two spots.

He maintained P19 until Corey LaJoie worked around the No. 13. From there, he fell to P23 and was told to “focus out front.”

The first caution came on Lap 17 as Andres Perez spun, and Butcher noted he was “free in,” but also noted power steering issues. Crew Chief Rich Lushes kept his driver on track to restart P23 on Lap 23. He gained a position on the opening lap, but was stuck in P22 as drivers once again stretched it out single file.

With 20 to go in the stage, Butcher radioed in that he had no power steering. With some last-lap jockeying, Butcher fell to P24, and as the stage ended, he noted, “Tight center, but still loose in.”

Stage 2

Butcher came to his crew for fuel, tires, and adjustments, and returned to the track in P23 to start the second stage. He was informed that the first 11 trucks did not pit.

In the middle of the field, there was a great deal of beating and banging, and Butcher fell to P26 as he went three wide.

A third of the way into the stage, he gained a position. Spotter Joe White told him, “Momentum coming back to you…Keep being smooth.”

With 13 to go in the stage, a hard hit for Frankie Muniz brought out the caution. At this time, Butcher was running P24, and Lushes brought his driver to the pits.

He was seventh off pit road, and for the three-lap shootout, Butcher lined up P11. When the green-white-checkered waved, he was scored P13.

Stage 3

Butcher started the final stage in P12 and quickly lost two spots. Suddenly, the caution was out again as Tanner Gray wrecked in Turn 2.

He restarted P15 with 96 to go. Immediately, he found himself spinning after contact with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

After multiple trips down pit road, he found himself sitting in P29, one lap down.

Butcher got lucky just a few laps later when Luke Baldwin went for a spin – allowing the No. 13 to return to the lead lap.

The next restart came with 72 to go, and Butcher in P27. Once again, the caution was in the air – this time, for Corey Heim as he removed himself from the Triple Truck Challenge contention. The incident brought out the red flag with Butcher in P25.

Butcher resumed the race in P23 with 63 to go. He promptly made up two spots, but just as quickly, he lost them.

With 46 to go, Butcher radioed in, “Tire down!” He came to the pits for fresh rubber, but before he could return to the track, he was forced to do a pass-through penalty for speeding on pit road.

With 37 to go, he hit the track in P29, eight laps down. Before he could solidify his position, Lajoie wrecked.

Butcher made multiple trips down pit road for repairs under caution, and with 27 to go, he restarted P28.

The remainder of the race ran quietly, and Butcher finished P28.

Sponsor Shout-out + Social Round-up

NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shout-out to ATLANTIC TILTLOAD. They played a huge part in the weekend for the No. 13 team.

Be sure to give Cole Butcher (Facebook, Instagram, X) and ThorSport Racing (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.