7/23/2019
Lauren Butler
LEADING SUPER CUP ROOKIE LAUREN BUTLER SET TO MAKE FIRST SALEM START SATURDAY NIGHT IN INAUGURAL SUPER CUP 100
SALEM, Ind. (July 23, 2019) -- West Mifflin, Pa.’s Lauren Butler is already the first female driver to ever win a feature event at Jennerstown Speedway. The busy mother of two young boys also won the Jennerstown Street Stock track championship in 2017. She’s also headed toward Salem Speedway fueled by the Hoosier Lottery to compete in the inaugural Super Cup 100 on the legendary high-banks Saturday night, July 27. Safe to say that her impending Salem adventure has her full attention.
“I’m a little nervous but I try not to let fear conquer me,” said the 31-year-old racer from western Pa.
“I expect it to be challenging but I’m definitely looking forward to it. I do a lot of watching and observing, and I feel like I’m a quick learner. I’ve never really had the opportunity to race on a track with this much banking, and it’s probably the fastest track I’ve ever been to, but I’m up for the opportunity and the challenge. What’s life without a challenge? This is what makes it worth living. It’s all about growing and learning, and I’m excited to show off the skills I do have.”
Butler is currently fifth in overall championship standings, just three points away from fourth. She also comes to Salem on the strength of back-to-back runner-up finishes in Super Cup competition at Jennerstown.
If Salem is all new, racing certainly is not. Butler has been at it for nearly 20 years, spending 11 years in go-karts before moving onto the Allison Legacy Series. From there she jumped into the late model ranks where she got off to a rough start.
“I jumped up to the late model in 2016 but I totaled it my first time out. We got out my dad’s old street stock and I’ve been there ever since.”
In addition to her championship at Jennerstown, she’s earned 15 career street stock victories between Jennerstown and Motordrome Speedway. This year marks her first full season in Super Cup.
“We debuted in Super Cup in 2018...did six races last year. This is my first full season in and it’s going very well. Seeing all these tracks for the first time has been quite an experience. I’ve never gotten the opportunity to do the traveling. We treat it like a mini-vacation. The tracks are amazing. Seeing new places and meeting new faces, it’s been very rewarding. We’re doing our best to put on the best show we can when the time comes.”
Butler races for her family team, preparing cars out of the family-owned business and race shop, Edlin Automotive Services. Her racing ventures are very much a family affair.
“My dad, Eddie Butler, is my crew chief. My mom, Linda Lea Butler, handles all the logistics and paperwork...keeps us in order.”
Her boyfriend Dustin Gursky also helps on the crew when he’s not back home racing himself. Herb Hilliard spots for Butler. Justin Guy is also a key component to her crew.
“Without them and our sponsors, none of this would be possible.”
Her sponsors include Edlin Automotive Services, Roof Repair Experts, Night & Day Seal Coating, Hillsview Landscaping, Ligonier Trucking, Pink Zebra, Motive Parts of Homestead, Cornwell Tools and 3C Signs.
When Butler isn’t racing, she works fulltime at West Penn Hospital in the central processing department, assembling and sterilizing surgical trays. Somehow, she also finds time to attend school fulltime, studying surgical technology, the next logical step in her career path.
Spectator gates at Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery open at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (July 27) with practice getting underway 4:00, qualifying follows at 6:15, with the first race scheduled to roll out at 7:15.
Advance general admission tickets, priced at just $15 for adults and $3 for children 7-12, are on sale now at salemspeedway.com or by calling 812-883-6504 or 888-246-7223. Story by Don Radebaugh
Article Credit: Don Radebaugh
Submitted By: Lauren Butler
