Third Generation Butler Gets Set for His Debut
Third Generation Butler Gets Set For His Debut
The Butler name has been synonymous with pavement sprint car racing for decades. Stan Butler, the patriarch, made a name for himself on the biggest stage in pavement sprint car racing as he competed in the Little 500 from 1978 to 2014. With a few years off in between, Butler amassed 26 total starts with nine top tens, four top fives, and a single pole position. Butler passed the torch onto his sons, Shane Butler, who has gone on to compete in 13 Little 500’s and Keith Butler who has competed in 10 Little 500’s. Now enters the third generation of Butler’s. Grandson to Stan and son of Shane, Landon Butler is gearing up for his first 500 Sprint Car Tour event when the series heads to Kalamazoo Speedway on Friday, August 23rd.
Keith, Stan, and Shane Butler all racing together in Florida in 2018.
Landon Butler, the young racer from Bushnell, Florida, has been impressive in his first year of sprint car racing. Racing predominantly in a dirt sprint car, Butler has put the competition on notice. Butler currently leads the points championship with the American Sprint Car Tour with a 16 point lead over Aiden Salisbury. Butler most recently went to victory lane at Champaign County Speedway on July 19th and has maintained solid performances since then to hold onto the points lead.
“I have been around racing from a very young age,” said Landon Butler. “I am going to continue to work on the cars but it is pretty cool to get behind the wheel of a pavement sprint car. My goal is just to be smooth, keep the car straight, and take it home in one piece.”
Landon pictured with his father Shane at Citrus County Speedway in 2015 - Richard Golardi Photo
Butler has set the precedent early on in his career that he is not just a driver. Having worked on and helped prepare his father’s racing cars over the years, he has translated that same work ethic to his own car. A small, family run team, Butler has been very hands-on when it comes to maintaining and preparing the team’s racing cars. An instrumental factor that has given Butler the opportunity to know all the ins and outs of his car from start to finish.
On Friday, August 23rd when the series heads to Kalamazoo Speedway in the first leg of the Auto Value Michigan Swing, Butler will officially make his first start with the 500 Sprint Car Tour. Earlier this spring, Butler tested at Anderson Speedway for series officials and his family to gauge the readiness of the young racer. Following that test, and his recent success, the decision was made to allow Butler to race. He, and his father, will be the first Father/Son duo to compete in a 500 Sprint Car Tour event.
The 2024 500 Sprint Car Tour season will see nine points earning events across a ten race schedule from early April to mid October. The 76th Annual Little 500 will once again be a non-points earning event for the series, filling out the ten race schedule in its traditional Memorial Day Weekend slot. For more information on the 500 Sprint Car Tour visit: 500sprintcartour.com and be sure to follow on social media (Facebook: 500 Sprint Car Tour | Twitter (X): @500SprintTour | Instagram: @500sprintcartour).
