Butler Motor Speedway Over 70 Years of Racing

Butler Motor Speedway

Over 70 Years of Racing

By Elyse Apel

Butler Motor Speedway has been a staple in the racing community since 1952. Located in Quincy, the Speedway’s dirt track features a wide variety of races, including a weekly 410 sprint car race, UMP modifieds, street stocks, front wheel drive racing and more.

In 2022, the Wilber family bought the Speedway. Tim Wilber had been a key part of the competition at the Speedway for years before buying it, racking up hundreds of wins and multiple track championships. When the Wilber family took over ownership, they committed to making it a “top priority” to work to better the facilities at the Speedway through repairs and improvements.

“It is simply amazing how the racing community can come together to make improvements,” the Wilber Family says, in a statement. “We can not wait to see what else is in store for the track.”

Audrey Brenneman, of Brenneman Racing, has recently joined her family’s tradition of racing at Butler Speedway.

“My son started racing last year and I couldn’t let him have all the fun,” Brenneman explains. “We had another car together and I started racing this year.”

Audrey, a 49-year-old mother of two and grandmother, says that she is part of a small group of women who race at the Speedway.

“It’s a scarce group, but there are more and more joining all the time and it is just a lot of fun,” she says.

The Speedway has races almost every Saturday night, with some races also happening during the week. This means racing is an all-weekend affair for the drivers.

“On Saturdays, we are tied up all day Saturday until midnight or sometimes even one in the morning,” Audrey explains. “Then, we are up again on Sunday, getting the cars washed and ready for the next week.”

In July and August, the races include Dirtcar Summer Nationals on July 11, Fireworks Night on July 13, Kids Night on August 3, and a 4-in-1 Show on August 10. Every show starts with gates opening at 4 p.m., fast tracks at 6 p.m., and racing at 7:30 p.m. The races run through the evening.

“It is a great feeling to be out there on the track,” Audrey says. “It’s like a family—racers help each other. If you are missing a part, somebody usually has a spare. We all come together on Saturdays and it’s fun, adrenaline, and a lot of work.”

Audrey’s car, which is number 18 and races in the four cylinder class, is sponsored by Simply Hers.

“When I decided to drive, I knew I wanted to have an all-female sponsored car. Me being a female driver, I wanted to support female-owned businesses,” Audrey says. “All the business owners thought it was an amazing idea, especially since they never really knew there were so many female drivers. It’s been really nice to hear from them how excited they are about sponsoring a female driver.”

For Brenneman Racing, racing is a “family affair.”

“My husband has raced since he was a teenager,” Audrey explains. Now her husband helps keep their cars running, even fabricating them on his own. Audrey now joins her son on the racetrack.

“Until this year, I just loved watching, but when my son started racing last year, it just sparked something in me. It’s a thrill to be able to be involved in something like this myself,” she says. “My son and I occasionally get caught in the same race, which is always an exciting time. Often, I am nervous until I get out there, but there’s just something about being on the track with everybody else and just doing your best to get as far ahead as you can.”

The Butler Motor Speedway is located at 1031 Clarendon Rd, Quincy, MI 49082. For more information about the races and buying tickets, visit butlerspeedway.com. It can also be contacted at (517) 542-3627.