Changes in store for Bo Butner as the JHG team leaves Bristol Dragway
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 19, 2022) – Bo Butner is ready to try something new after a weekend that fell somewhat short of expectations at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Butner, driving the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro, saw an uptick in the performance of his Pro Stock car, but with a first-round loss on the books, he’s made some suggestions that the team is taking into account.
“Our power is good,” he said while looking over the timeslip following the first round of eliminations at Bristol Dragway.
“We outran him a hundredth from here to here,” Butner continued, gesturing towards incremental measurements between himself and opponent Dallas Glenn, who won the round on a 6.656-second pass to his own 6.672.
“We’ve gotten better, but I’m very impatient. I’m used to going a lot of rounds, and so I expect it overnight. But it’s not going to happen overnight, because we’re still learning with this car.”
Butner and his team rallied after the loss, and he pitched an idea that was well-received.
“I’m going to try something I know from bracket racing and Sportsman racing,” he said. “It’s a whole different way to run the car, and they agreed to it – but I had to agree not to stage deeper. I told them, let’s just do one race like that and see if we learn something.”
Butner and his #JHGDriven team will be racing next at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio at Summit Motorsports Park. Summit Racing has been a valued partner for Butner for several years, and he looks forward to meeting with the friends he’s made within the organization that have supported both his professional and Sportsman racing.
On Thursday of the event, he will attend the VIP race held for Summit Racing employees at the racetrack.
“We’re going to hang out with the Summit folks. It’s been a while, and it’ll be good to see them,” he said. “I’ll be racing both Pro Stock and Top Sportsman, and Randi Lyn [Shipp, fiancée] will be racing Stock. It’s going to be a good time.
“I’m happy because our sponsor, Jason Johnson, is with us at every race, and he’s smiling and having fun. We get to go hang out at his playground – Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage – this week and see his amazing collection of cars. It’s going to be a good time, and maybe we even cap off the week with a trophy.”
The next race on the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule will be the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, June 23-26, 2022.
Qualifying results:
Q1: 6.713-second, 203.80 mph (No. 6)
Q2: 6.706, 205.60 (No. 8)
Q3: 6.685, 206.54 (No. 10)
Raceday results:
R1: Dallas Glenn defeated Bo Butner, (.010-second reaction time) 6.656-second at 205.51 mph to (.041) 6.672, 207.05