Bo Butner prepares to race #JHGDriven teammate for first time in Phoenix eliminations
PHOENIX (March 25, 2023) – In the 2023 season of NHRA's Camping World Drag Racing Series, Bo Butner is no longer the sole Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro pilot, and on Sunday at the 38th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, fans will be seeing double as they observe Butner's striking red #JHGDriven Pro Stocker line up next to its twin – the JHG machine piloted by teammate Erica Enders.
"It'll be a pretty cool sight for Jason Johnson and the gang from Johnson's Horsepowered Garage and the fans in the stands, but it'll be a tough round," said Butner. "The good news when you race a teammate is that one of you is guaranteed to move on, but the other side of that is that one of you has to pack it up and go home. I'd prefer that wasn't us.
Butner qualified in the No. 11 position with a best time of 6.577-second at 209.04 mph, while his teammate and the reigning NHRA champion qualified her matching red JHG Chevy sixth on a 6.566, 208.59.
Although Butner didn't clock better numbers in qualifying than his first-round opponent, he did get more seat time as he is also competing in Top Dragster at the event. Former Comp and Pro Stock champion Butner, who has won in seven different categories in NHRA competition, has not yet won in Top Dragster.
He advanced from the first round of eliminations, which took place on Saturday at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, and he hopes to collect all the win lights up for grabs on Sunday to tie Jeg Coughlin Jr., the only driver who has victories earned in seven different categories.
"It's a lot to think about going into Sunday, but they're all good things," said Butner. "We have two chances to win, and if this does end up being the last race in Phoenix, it would be awesome to have that trophy. It would be even better to have two."
Eliminations at the 38th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix are scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. MST on Sunday, March 26.
Qualifying Results:
Q1: 7.924-second at 112.33 mph (No. 17)
Q2: 6.577, 209.04 (No. 11)
Q3: 6.588, 207.50 (No. 11)
First round opponent:
Erica Enders