Bo Butner expects forward-thinking attitude to pay dividends for the JHG team on Sunday at the NHRA FallNationals
DALLAS (Oct. 15, 2022) – For Bo Butner, attitude is everything. He plans to carry that thought into Sunday at the Texas NHRA FallNationals and take a racecar that he feels is strong and capable all the way to the winner's circle.
"We made two good raceday runs today," said Butner, who qualified in the No. 10 spot with a best time of 6.570-second at 209.60 mph. "We weren't low [of the session], but we were fourth or fifth in both of them today, and you can win with that. This morning, we had a real good meeting with the crew chiefs, and we're all still positive. If you stay positive, your car is going to run better, and it showed that today. Everything really clicked together, and I'm happy with that."
The Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Pro Stock car has shown promise off and on throughout the year with 11-time Pro Stock victor and 2017 world champion Butner behind the wheel, and his dedicated crew has poured heart and soul into the program. They were richly inspired at the first race of the Countdown to the Championship – in Reading – when Butner scored the 12th No. 1 qualifier award of his career.
They have continued to work to refine their program, and after one qualifying pass in Dallas, they opted to swap engines to see if they could hit on the power they've been after. After one pass, they re-thought the move.
"We tried a new one for Q2, but we actually put Old Faithful back in this morning, and it seemed to run good today," he said. "This morning we talked about it and said we probably have a better handle on the older one. It wasn't hurt, so let's put it back in and go from there."
Butner's crew continues to prove that they possess a tireless spirt, and they are elevated heading into Sunday. Butner will race Deric Kramer in round one, the same driver he raced in the first round at the most recent event on the tour – St. Louis. There, Butner's JHG machine pulled out of the groove and toward the wall, he had to lift, and he lost the round.
"I think we'll make a good run tomorrow, and it's going to be a good race," said Butner. "We're not first pair, which is huge. I'm feeling great after we all spoke this morning. I think we're going to go in a much better direction."
In addition to his own quest for a trophy at the FallNationals, Butner's fiancée, Randi Lyn Shipp, was racing for the Stock Eliminator victory and reached the final round – the 13th of her career – which was run to completion late Saturday evening. Ultimately, Shipp was defeated by John Brimer.
"I woke up this morning and said to Randi Lyn, 'You know what, today is going to be a good day,' " he said. "For most of the day, things went the way they should. I'm very proud of her, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow – we'll see what we can do with this JHG Pro Stocker."
Final eliminations at the Texas NHRA FallNationals will begin on Sunday at Texas Motorplex beginning at 11:00 a.m. CT.
"We made two good raceday runs today," said Butner, who qualified in the No. 10 spot with a best time of 6.570-second at 209.60 mph. "We weren't low [of the session], but we were fourth or fifth in both of them today, and you can win with that. This morning, we had a real good meeting with the crew chiefs, and we're all still positive. If you stay positive, your car is going to run better, and it showed that today. Everything really clicked together, and I'm happy with that."
The Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Pro Stock car has shown promise off and on throughout the year with 11-time Pro Stock victor and 2017 world champion Butner behind the wheel, and his dedicated crew has poured heart and soul into the program. They were richly inspired at the first race of the Countdown to the Championship – in Reading – when Butner scored the 12th No. 1 qualifier award of his career.
They have continued to work to refine their program, and after one qualifying pass in Dallas, they opted to swap engines to see if they could hit on the power they've been after. After one pass, they re-thought the move.
"We tried a new one for Q2, but we actually put Old Faithful back in this morning, and it seemed to run good today," he said. "This morning we talked about it and said we probably have a better handle on the older one. It wasn't hurt, so let's put it back in and go from there."
Butner's crew continues to prove that they possess a tireless spirt, and they are elevated heading into Sunday. Butner will race Deric Kramer in round one, the same driver he raced in the first round at the most recent event on the tour – St. Louis. There, Butner's JHG machine pulled out of the groove and toward the wall, he had to lift, and he lost the round.
"I think we'll make a good run tomorrow, and it's going to be a good race," said Butner. "We're not first pair, which is huge. I'm feeling great after we all spoke this morning. I think we're going to go in a much better direction."
In addition to his own quest for a trophy at the FallNationals, Butner's fiancée, Randi Lyn Shipp, was racing for the Stock Eliminator victory and reached the final round – the 13th of her career – which was run to completion late Saturday evening. Ultimately, Shipp was defeated by John Brimer.
"I woke up this morning and said to Randi Lyn, 'You know what, today is going to be a good day,' " he said. "For most of the day, things went the way they should. I'm very proud of her, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow – we'll see what we can do with this JHG Pro Stocker."
Final eliminations at the Texas NHRA FallNationals will begin on Sunday at Texas Motorplex beginning at 11:00 a.m. CT.