Blonde Opens Butler Season with Top 10; Naida Takes Rhino Racing Engine to Victory Lane

📸 Jim Fisher

Quincy, MI - The start of the 2025 Butler Motor Speedway season proved to be a successful one for Rhino Racing in more ways than one. Not only did Jason Blonde drive his way to a top 10 finish, but a Rhino Racing power plant went to victory lane in thrilling fashion Saturday night as well.

2018 Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, Jason Blonde started the night off with a solid qualifying effort, locking in sixth quick overall in a field of 24 cars that included heavy hitters like Sean Rayhall, Bryce Lucius, and local hot shoes Brand Lamberson, Tyler Gunn, and more. Adrian, Michigan native, Darin Naida qualified 7th while representing Rhino Racing under the hood of his No.7N.

In Heat race number one, Naida rolled from the outside of row number one and took home the win over Rayhall and Mark Yearling. Blonde found himself lined up third in Heat race number three which was full of excitment including a couple of near crashes for the leaders at the front of the field. Blonde took care of his equipment and raced his way into the main event with a fourth place finish.

The 25-lap main event was led to green by Naida and Thomas Schinderle, but Schinderle spun in turns three and four early in the race setting up a restart. Meanwhile, Blonde started in the middle of the hornet’s nest, rolling off 12th. On the restart, Naida jumped out to a big lead over Jedrzejek and Rayhall while working on lapped traffic. While in heavy lapped traffic, Lucius closed in on Naida who was able to hold him off by a few feet at the checkered flag for his first win of the year.

For Blonde, a few changes to the car proved successful throughout the night. The No.10BR rolled in the trailer in one piece with an eighth-place finish, advancing four spots throughout the course of the night.

The next events for Rhino Racing are this Friday and Saturday night. On Friday, Blonde is back in the 360 at I-96 Speedway with the Great Lakes Super Sprints before returning to the 410 on Saturday at Butler Motor Speedway. To keep up on all the plans throughout the season, find Rhino Racing on Facebook.

Rhino Racing would like to thank their marketing partners for their support of the 2025 season including Cole Ford Lincoln, Sims Lawn & Landscape, Independence Heating & Cooling, Mancinos Pizza and Grinders & Creamery, Flint Truck Service, Coldwater Lake Marina, Lake Drive Marine, Hamilton Trucking, S&K Detail, Canopy’s R Us, and Irvin’s Hardware.

Those interested in joining the Rhino Racing Marketing Campaign should contact team owner, Phil Reneau at (517) 250-1688 or by emailing preneau@aol.com. Find Rhino Racing on Facebook for more information.