The Annual Run for Rabbit race is one of Limaland’s most popular special events as it honors the memory of Travis “Rabbit” Miller. Miller was unusually enthusiastic about motorsports and left an impression on others that insures this race one of the most popular among the competitors. The 2010 edition brought the Engine Pro NRA Sprint Invaders to the Limaland high-banked ¼ mile and the large crowd enjoyed near perfect conditions for the final day April after and 80 degree day.

Veteran Butch Schroeder had won races in his sprint car career, but never before in 360 sprints at Limaland. Benefitting from an outside front row starting position, Schroeder bolted passed pole sitter Darren Long at the start of the 25 lap feature and ultimately never looked back.

There were three cautions in the first four laps, although none of which affected Schroeder from his front of the pack position. A red flag was waved after the fourth lap when veteran Jarrod Horstman flipped his orange #17 coming through turn four. It was the second straight week Horstman’s week ended with an incident at that spot on the track.

Another caution came on the 9^th lap, this time triggered by the Smith Boughan Cool Move of the Race winner from last week, Sheldon Haudenschild. The restart on Lap 9 saw Schroeder ride the cushion and easily hold challenges from Darren Long and defending NRA Sprint Invader champion JR Stewart. A mechanical break sent Long to the pits on lap 15 while heavy smoke was spewing from third-place runner Randy Hannagan’s entry.

Eventually Hannagan was finished on the 19^th lap with only Stewart and last weeks Limaland division winner Tim Allison trailing Schroeder. Neither driver seriously threatened the yellow #20, and Schroeder went on the capture his first Run for Rabbit, the NRA season opener, the $2,000 prize and his personal first win in 360 sprints at the historic Limaland facility.

“I tore up some stuff on the car after I tagged the wall during hot laps and had to change a bunch of stuff on our car,” Schroeder told the crowd after his conquest.  “But by the time we turned some screws on the thing it was a rocket. I was flat out around there (Limaland ¼ mile).”  Schroeder also reflected on the event’s namesake Travis Miller, “I’m a father with two wonderful girls and a wonderful wife. I hope nothing ever happens to me.”