ASA Southern Super Series
SpeedFest Celebrates 21st Running as One of Short Track Racing’s True Season-Opening Traditions
Jan 18, 2026
While Cole Butcher is making the jump to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, the Canadian standout still has plans to chase some of Late Model racing's biggest trophies this year.
Butcher announced his planned Late Model schedule for the upcoming season on Sunday, including seven Super Late Model events. The 2025 ASA STARS National Tour champion will pilot the No. 44 for Bob Lyon Racing in those contests.
"We’ll be racing seven races with Bob Lyon Racing in the #44 Hamke Super Late Model," said Butcher in the announcement. "Thanks to Bob and Jamie Lyon for the opportunity to be part of their program. Cody Glick will serve as the crew chief, and we’re looking forward to working together this season."
Four of those seven races will come at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. Butcher's Late Model slate begins with the ASA Sunshine State 200 on March 13-14, an event he has won the last two years. Butcher returns to Five Flags Speedway on June 12-13 for the ASA Southern Super Series/Blizzard Series doubleheader weekend.
The Super Late Model schedule also includes the ASA STARS National Tour event at Dominion Raceway (VA), as well as the Winchester 400 and All American 400. He will also return to Five Flags Speedway on December 2-6 for the 59th Annual Snowball Derby.
Last week, ThorSport Racing announced Butcher will join the team for a full-season campaign in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He will pilot the team's No. 13 Ford F-150 in the upcoming season.
Butcher won the Winchester 400 in 2024, holding off Ty Majeski for the victory. Coincidentally, Butcher will now be teammates with Majeski, a fellow past ASA STARS National Tour champion, at ThorSport, alongside 2024 All American 400 winner Jake Garcia.
The Nova Scotia native will be seeking his first wins in the All American 400 and Snowball Derby. His short track resume already includes a pair of victories in both the Redbud 400 and the Oxford 250, alongside the ASA STARS National Tour, ASA Southern Super Series and ASA/CRA Super Series championships in 2025.
Butcher will also return north of the border for a trio of Fort Garry Industries (FGI) Pro Stock Tour events in the family's No. 53 Butcher Racing Late Model. Those races include visits to Riverside Speedway on June 27 and September 12, as well as the Summer Clash 250 at Scotia Speedworld on August 7-8.
-Photo credit: Will Bellamy
