Car racing: The two-time defending Oxford 250 champion was banned from this year’s race

Cole Butcher, the two-time defending Oxford 250 champion, will not compete in the annual races next week after being suspended by the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) in March. Brewster Burns file photo

Two-time defending Oxford 250 champion Cole Butcher has been banned from this year’s race by the owners of the Pro All Stars series for an overly aggressive riding style.

Butcher, 27, of Porter’s Lake, Nova Scotia, was told in a March 22 letter from track owner Tom Mayberry — who also runs Oxford Plains Speedway — that he could no longer compete in the series after the past few incidents. years.

The Oxford 250, to be run on August 25, is a PASS race.

In the letter, Mayberry told Butcher that “we feel it is better for all parties that you and your team no longer compete with PASS Racing. Due to the events that have occurred at Hickory (Motor Speedway in North Carolina) and several others in recent years, it appears that your style of racing is not correct for PASS Racing.

Butcher was trying to become just the second driver in the race’s 51-year history to win three straight crowns. Ralph Nason, who won the 250 series from 1998-2000, is the other rider to accomplish the feat.

“I’m a little bummed, but it’s also a little weight off my shoulders and taking (the pressure of) winning three in a row,” said Butcher. “Technically I can make it three in a row (for myself), but it won’t be in consecutive years if I’m ever welcomed back. I know my family is devastated, my dad loves the place… Very few Canadians have ever won (250). For me, being one of them is a great experience.”

Mayberry said Friday he was ready to let Butcher run this year’s race, but then changed his mind when Butcher said he went public with PASS’s decision.

“He had managed to race but then he gave us a claim so we decided he just wasn’t a good fit,” he said. “We don’t need to deal with this.”

Butcher said on Friday that he planned to post on social media why he would not be participating in the Oxford 250. He denied claiming Mayberry.

“I wasn’t like, ‘Hey, I’m going to put this (message) out into the world, if you don’t let me back, you’re going down,'” Butcher said. “That’s never been said. If they want me back, I’d come back, but I’m not going to stoop to that level. I was just trying to be polite.”

Ultimate winner Cole Butcher sketches behind Joey Doiron before taking the lead in the 2023 Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. Brewster Burns file photo

Driver Mike Hopkins was edged out by Butcher during the PASS St. Patrick’s 150 on March 16 at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina. With two laps remaining in the race, Butcher trailed Hopkins as they entered the first turn. Butcher’s bumper hit the left rear of Hopkins’ car, forcing a breakaway that also took out Garrett Hall’s car.

Butcher’s victory in last year’s Oxford 250 was controversial when he aggressively passed Joey Doiron after 26 laps. Butcher made contact with several drivers, first in qualifying earlier in the day. Just seven laps into the 250, Butcher ousted Jimmy Renfrew Jr. for the pole position.

After that, Butcher was sent to the back of the field for a penalty for driving hard. However, he made it back to the front of the field and collided with Doiron’s rear bumper to take the lead in the final laps.

An angry Doiron said after the race: – I know (Butcher) wants to win, but you can at least try to pass. He certainly never does. … Until they do something about it, it just keeps going.”

Butcher defended his racing style on Friday.

“I’m not the first and I won’t be the last to run into something and knock someone out,” he said. “It’s just racing, it’s racing terminology. It’s just race hard and race to win. … I’ve done stupid things. If they want to ban me from the race or fine me, that’s perfectly fine. But the series ban feels a bit redundant. If they ever welcome me back, I’m sure we’ll be there, but until then I guess we’ll just watch it on TV.”

Some veteran drivers said they were happy to see PASS bar Butcher, who is home recovering from surgery to correct atrial fibrillation, also known as an irregular heartbeat.

“I thank the series (for the ban) and finally doing something about it,” said Farmingdale driver and longtime PASS driver Johnny Clark. “Tell him, ‘Okay, that’s enough.’ … Obviously he can drive a race car, but he drives like he’s the only one on the track. If everybody raced Cole the way he races everybody, nobody would finish the race.

Doiron said Thursday that while he doesn’t like Butcher’s driving style, he hoped to race against him on the 25th. August.

“I think it’s bullshit,” Doiron said. “You want to beat the best guys and he’s one of the best in Oxford … It would have been a pretty cool story for him to go three in a row like (Nason). Unfortunately, he can’t.”

Butcher is having a successful year on the American Speed ​​Association STARS National Tour. Butcher, who drives for Wilson Motorsports, is second (431 points) in the owner’s championship, just two points behind leader Casey Roderick.

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