Bristol Motor Speedway will host another landmark moment this week as Canadian short-track veteran Cole Butcher prepares for his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut. The Hantsport, Nova Scotia, driver will wheel the No. 62 Toyota for Halmar Friesen Racing in Thursday night’s UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics. A champion in Pro Stock Tour competition and a recent ASA STARS National Tour winner, Butcher arrives with a resume steeped in short-track grit, ready to test himself on one of NASCAR’s most demanding half-mile ovals.
Key Highlights
Cole Butcher to debut in the Truck Series for Halmar Friesen Racing at Bristol.
Butcher’s No. 62 Toyota comes after success in Late Models and ASA STARS Tour.
Stewart Friesen praises Butcher’s progress in tough short-track competition.
Race serves as the second Round of 10 playoff event in the Truck Series.
Corey Heim, with four wins in the last five races, remains the playoff favorite.
Cole Butcher’s Opportunity with Halmar Friesen Racing
For Butcher, Thursday’s race represents the biggest step of his racing career to date. Known in Canadian motorsport for his sharp instincts and short-track dominance, the 27-year-old adds his name to the list of regional standouts moving into NASCAR’s national ranks. His confidence ahead of the event reflects both the weight of the opportunity and the magnitude of racing at Bristol.
“I’m excited to make my Truck Series debut. It’s a big opportunity. Bristol is such an iconic track.” – Cole Butcher
Halmar Friesen Racing, co-owned by Stewart Friesen, has steadily built its reputation as a competitive Truck Series operation. For Friesen, Butcher’s advancement was inevitable after years of watching him carve out a reputation in Late Models.
“Cole has been on our radar for the past few years. I’ve watched what he’s been able to do against some of the toughest Late Model competition in the country and he’s been impressive.” – Stewart Friesen
The team’s belief in Butcher offers him a strong platform to showcase his adaptability against one of the toughest Truck Series fields assembled this year.
Playoff Intensity Defines the UNOH 200
Butcher’s debut adds intrigue to a race already packed with playoff implications. The UNOH 200 marks the second event in the Truck Series Round of 10, where every point carries added weight in the battle to advance. Corey Heim, fresh off a dominant stretch that includes four wins in his last five starts, enters Bristol as the driver to beat. His consistency has stamped him as the clear championship favorite, but the short track’s unpredictability ensures the field remains wide open.
Veterans like Grant Enfinger, Matt Crafton, and Ben Rhodes will lean on their Bristol experience, while young contenders such as Rajah Caruth and Kaden Honeycutt aim to keep their playoff hopes alive. Bristol’s bullring layout, with its high banks and quick tempo, often reshapes the championship picture with sudden swings in fortune.
Entry List Highlights a Competitive Field
The 37-truck entry list reflects a balance of established contenders, rising stars, and developmental drivers. Among the regulars are Heim, Enfinger, Rhodes, Ty Majeski, and Chandler Smith, all expected to be strong factors. Alongside them are a host of part-time and developing names, including Corey Day, Dawson Sutton, and Mason Maggio, each making the most of limited starts in 2025.
| POS | Driver |
|---|---|
| 1 | Brent Crews |
| 2 | Treyten Lapcevich (i) |
| 3 | Clayton Green |
| 4 | Toni Breidinger |
| 5 | Norm Benning |
| 6 | Corey Day (i) |
| 7 | Grant Enfinger |
| 8 | Corey Heim |
| 9 | Jake Garcia |
| 10 | Tanner Gray |
| 11 | Giovanni Ruggiero |
| 12 | Tyler Ankrum |
| 13 | Daniel Hemric |
| 14 | Stefan Parsons |
| 15 | Josh Reaume |
| 16 | Dawson Sutton (i) |
| 17 | Mason Maggio (i) |
| 18 | Layne Riggs |
| 19 | Greg Van Alst |
| 20 | Chandler Smith |
| 21 | Conner Jones |
| 22 | Matt Mills |
| 23 | Andres Perez De Lara |
| 24 | Bayley Currey |
| 25 | Kaden Honeycutt |
| 26 | Cole Butcher |
| 27 | Rajah Caruth |
| 28 | Caleb Costner |
| 29 | Parker Kligerman |
| 30 | Spencer Boyd |
| 31 | Corey LaJoie |
| 32 | Connor Mosack |
| 33 | Matt Crafton |
| 34 | Jack Wood |
| 35 | Clay Greenfield |
| 36 | Ty Majeski |
| 37 | Ben Rhodes |
Notably, Toni Breidinger returns to the field in the No. 4 Toyota, continuing her steady push for experience at NASCAR’s national level. Parker Kligerman and Corey LaJoie also add Cup Series experience to the Truck grid, further raising the bar for competition on Thursday night. For Butcher, this means a demanding debut against a field that blends veteran savvy with youthful ambition, where survival and track position are just as important as raw speed.
Bristol Schedule Sets the Stage
The UNOH 200 is only one part of a packed week of racing at Bristol Motor Speedway. Thursday’s program includes ARCA practice and qualifying in the afternoon, followed by the Bush’s Beans 200 before the Truck Series event under the lights. On Friday, the spotlight shifts to the Xfinity Series with the Food City 300, while the Cup Series stars prepare for Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race, the first elimination event of their Playoffs. For Butcher, being part of the Thursday main event places him squarely within one of NASCAR’s most tradition-rich weekends.
News in Brief: 2025 UNOH 200 Entry List
Canadian standout Cole Butcher will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in Thursday night’s UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics. Driving the No. 62 Toyota for Halmar Friesen Racing, Butcher joins a 37-truck field that includes playoff regulars Corey Heim, Grant Enfinger, and Ben Rhodes. Heim enters as the championship favorite after winning four of the past five races. The event doubles as the second Truck Series playoff race in the Round of 10. Watch the action Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.
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