Cole Butcher Snags First Nashville Guitar in North/South SLM Challenge

Neither a rainy weekend nor a late-race caution could stop Cole Butcher from getting his first Super Late Model win at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway this weekend.

Butcher led every lap of Sunday's North/South Super Late Model Challenge at Nashville, the annual meeting between the ASA/CRA Super Series and ASA Southern Super Series. The race took place on Sunday afternoon after persistent rain postponed the event from Saturday evening.

The Canadian driver boasted two wins and four podium finishes in the first five ASA Southern Super Series events of 2025, carrying the points lead for the series into Sunday's race. That also gave him the pole position when qualifying was rained out on Saturday, with owner points used to set the starting lineup for the event.

Butcher continued his winning ways on Sunday, dominating at a track that had stymied him previously in his career. Between the North/South Super Late Model Challenge and the All American 400, Butcher's best finish at Nashville was 14th, with four DNFs.

"It's good considering we never really finished a race [here] up until last year," said Butcher about the win. "I can't thank my team enough. I can't thank everybody here at Nashville Speedway, CRA, ASA for getting this race in.

"I'd like to thank my sponsors, Atlantic Tiltload, Top Construction, PFC Brakes, Swift Springs, 9D Creative, Simpson Race Products, Toyota, everyone at TPC and TGR. I can't thank my team enough, it's good to get a guitar."

While Butcher was the clear front-runner throughout the 100-lap race, a late caution as Stephen Nasse stopped on track after running out of fuel set up a final opportunity for others to snatch the win away.

Matt Craig, a former All American 400 winner, valiantly attempted to wrestle the lead away from Butcher on the final restart, but settled for second as he was unable to take the top spot.

"I couldn't have done a whole lot more," said Craig. "I just needed a little bit more front turn, a little more front bite to get up there and run with him. He races me clean everywhere we race, so I raced him as clean as I could and as hard as I could, just tried to keep it clean and all that.

"I've just got to say thank you to my family and friends at home. I've been missing y'all while we were out here racing this whole weekend, so I can't wait to get home."

While the qualifying rainout was beneficial to drivers like Matt Craig, it made for a long day for others such as Carson Brown. The New London, North Carolina driver charged from 10th to a third-place finish during the 100-lap contest.

"Just started too far back, with the whole no qualifying and starting off points," said Brown. "Overall, just ran a really good race, just needed a little bit more.

"It means a lot. This is my first time racing here in a Super. It was a fun experience. It was really hard to pass, just tried to pick people off on restarts and do what we could. Just a great experience, big thank you to Anthony [Campi] and the team."

Gavan Boschele finished fourth, with Kyle Steckly rounding out the top five.

For ASA Southern Super Series teams, the next stop is Hickory Motor Speedway for the Tar Heel 250 co-sanctioned by the ASA STARS National Tour. That event on Thursday, May 22 is part of a Memorial Day weekend doubleheader, with the two series also racing at Tennessee's Newport Speedway on Saturday, May 24.

The next ASA/CRA Super Series event is scheduled for June 21 at Flat Rock Speedway in Flat Rock, Michigan.

-Photo credit: Jeff Ames

North/South Super Late Model Challenge Unofficial Results