Developmental Team: Eddie Sharp Racing
No. 2 & NO. 22 ARCA RE/MAX Series
Toyota and Dodge: Michael Waltrip Racing and Ganassi Racing

Eddie McDowell

  

Ken Butler III

  

"You put enough good people in one area and all of a sudden good things start happening."
Michael McDowell

"That's what a good race car driver is, knowing his race car and being consistent every lap."
Ken Butler III

Young drivers with vast experience in go-karts, legend cars, sprint cars and late models still need proper training and experience to step up to the big leagues in stock car racing.

Racing teams don't sign 5 year-olds. A child wanting to advance beyond go-karts has to have support from parents or elsewhere. The key is to compete well and win so that someone beyond the sportsman level recognizes the good effort.

It's often said that at least 1000 weekend stock car drivers (out of an estimated 140,000 nationwide) could fill a seat at the Cup level and the general performance after some experience would not change. Out of that 1000 it's certain that at least 43 sparkling personalities could pick up a microphone and generate charisma. In time little known contenders would be known commodities.

Young drivers seem to leap to the top from no where, but that's only public perception. Developmental drivers arrive at youthful point in their lives with extensive racing experience.

We know this much. Young drivers have to learn to walk before they learn to drive, but only a few years after the walking lessons the driver training can commence.

Michael McDowell raced a full decade in of go-karts racking up wins and a championship. McDowell became the youngest driver to place second in a Rolex race and excelled in the open-wheel Rolex series and Grand Am sports cars. The 22 year-old from Phoenix, Ariz., joined the EDS to prepare for a hopeful move up the ranks to NASCAR's best.

Ken Butler III didn't compete at racing when he was a child but he brought Georgia championship high school football skills to go-karting in his teens. With brother Brett and help from father Ken and their family business Arron Rents the Butler brothers moved up to good Michael Waltrip equipment in ASA and then Hooters USAR Pro Cup. Ken Butler, KBIII as he is known, advanced to ARCA in 2007 with the help of Waltrip and Eddie Sharp Racing.

KBIII won the 07 ARCA race in Toledo by slipping by teammate and fellow development driver Michael McDowell. The 25 year-old from Lilburn, Ga., also has a limited schedule in the Craftsman Truck Series for Michael Waltrip.

Not every developmental driver will develop to the top. That's just the odds. In the end with only 43 seats at the top and an abundance of developmental trainees waiting for a chance, the highest goal won't be reality for all. For sure, some will be a part of NASCAR's future.

Butler and McDowell hope they will surpass the constant learning curves on the way to the top and one day become household names in motorpsorts.
                                       Interviewer Dwight Drum

Focus is important; did you acquire that or bring it with you?
"I think anyone you talk to that's a professional driver has got the notion to focus. When you're out there, so much is going on if you're not focused you're going to be in the fence. I think what separates people from guys that can win races like Tony Stewart every weekend is just that. You need to find that extra 10 percent to stay out in front or get to the front if you find it. A lot of guys out there can do that. I think that's what makes a champion. You watch Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson go at it. They are just getting the absolute most out of their race cars, which is a lot of fun to watch."

Do fans up in the stands misunderstand what you go through as a driver?
"People that have never been in a race car, it sure looks easy. It looks like anybody can do it, but once you actually get in there and get in the top eight. They understand that these cars don't always do what you tell them to. You got to know how to make the car better during a long run. Then you got people hitting you from behind and people trying to get positions. It's just totally different that what an average person knows or thinks."

Can you identify the common hurdles you must overcome routinely as a driver at the ARCA level?
"In short track races the biggest thing if you want to have a good car, but usually it's avoiding all the mishaps out there. It's just the craziness with the cars getting into other cars, a bunch of cautions, restarts and people piling up. That's probably the biggest thing. Outside the car the biggest and hardest part of racing is keeping up the relationships with the sponsorships because obviously that just might do it. If it weren't for the sponsors you can't do it. That's a constant battle is keeping that side of things going."

Do NASCAR champions and motorsports champions have common traits and abilities, and if so could you identify a few?
"I think in any series what makes a champion is all the other parts of it. Obviously there are a lot of drivers out there that can drive fast and can win races but to win a championship you've got to be smart. The biggest thing is finding yourself with a team that has the capability of doing that. From a driver standpoint I think it's important to be a part of building that team and building those relationships.

"Ultimately if the guy that's changing your right rear wheel doesn't enjoy working on your race car and doesn't want you to succeed then he's not going to give you 100 percent effort. You need 100 percent effort from all the guys on the team. That's the most important part. Even the guys that you don't really communicate every day with but the engine shops and body shops and things like that. I think it's important that everybody wants to see you succeed. That's what helps you win championships."

If you were to take a fan for a ride on the track during competition, what would you say to them about the expectation of the experience?
"I think I'd just laugh because for an outsider to hop into a race car in that particular situation would be a very interesting experience. I did a lot of that, we had two-seater race cars. We did what we called hot rod fests for big companies and it's just amazing what the reaction is when they get out there. They don't know what to do with themselves. They have no idea what a race is capable of doing. It's fun to see."

What makes a good team tick?
"I think there are a lot of variables. You put enough good people in one area and all of a sudden good things start happening. You need to start out with a solid foundation and build upon that with communication. Make sure everybody is working toward the same goals. That's the most important thing is having everybody motivated and have the same desires as you to go out there and win races. I think we've got that with Eddie Sharp Racing right now. Everybody is working hard and it seems to be a very good program."

Focus is important; did you acquire that or bring it with you?
"I think anyone you talk to that's a professional driver has got the notion to focus. When you're out there, so much is going on if you're not focused you're going to be in the fence. I think what separates people from guys that can win races like Tony Stewart every weekend is just that. You need to find that extra 10 percent to stay out in front or get to the front if you find it. A lot of guys out there can do that. I think that's what makes a champion. You watch Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson go at it. They are just getting the absolute most out of their race cars, which is a lot of fun to watch."

Do you believe successful drivers handle stress and pressure better than the average person?
"I don't know. I think that's a part of it. For sure there is a lot going on. There is a lot of pressure and a lot of stress on me. But even in the business world there's a lot figure every month and every year. I think there is a lot of pressure in any profession that you're in. If you're serious about it, I think you put a lot of pressure on yourself to succeed in virtually everything you do. I don't know if drivers are extraordinary in that sense of handling pressure but a lot is going on at once out there."

What's your comment on a development program?
"It takes a while. No driver can ever stop learning. Just get more experience. Through Eddie Sharp and Michael (Waltrip), giving me this opportunity, it's just so cool working with Michael and Eddie and all the team. The team's great, very knowledgeable. They have really good race cars.

Does it boost your program?
"We definitely have top notch stuff. I'm very happy with the car and how it's handling. I'm very happy with the communications with the crew chief. We're just excited to be here. It's my first time in an ARCA car. They're a little bit bigger car, more horsepower and different tires. That's the only thing I've got to get used to. I'll keep learning throughout the race. Hopefully I'll come out with a good finish."

Do NASCAR champions and motorsports champions have common traits and abilities, and if so could you identify a few?
"Every driver has a feel for a race car. You've got to understand the feel of a race car and what it can do and what it's capable of doing. I think once you have that feel and understand how the car works through the turns and how to make it better. And also being consistent each and every lap, that's what makes a champion. That's what wins races. That's what a good race car driver is, knowing his race car and being consistent every lap. Just be smart throughout the race and save yourself for the end."

If you were to take a fan for a ride on the track during competition, what would you say to them about the expectation of the experience?
"Hold on for dear life. You're wide open at every lap. You can't really sit around or you're going to get freight-trained and run over. Just hold on and dodge the big wreck."

Do fans up in the stands misunderstand what you go through as a driver?
"People that have never been in a race car, it sure looks easy. It looks like anybody can do it, but once you actually get in there and get in the top eight. They understand that these cars don't always do what you tell them to. You got to know how to make the car better during along run. Then you got people hitting you from behind and people trying to get positions. It's just totally different that what an average person knows or thinks."

Can you identify the common hurdles you must overcome routinely as a driver at this level?
"Right now this is my first race with this brand new team. We're starting to feel each other out and understand each other. Hurdles? I really don't have any right now. Just make your laps and don't tear up race cars. That's our biggest goal right now."