#JHGDriven Bo Butner claims the provisional pole on the first day of the NHRA Countdown
READING, Pa. (Sept. 16, 2022) – Bo Butner and his Johnson's Horsepowered Garage team have been patient. They've been focused. And now, on the first day of the first race of the 2022 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, the diligent #JHGDriven cast of characters are beginning to reap the rewards.
Butner clocked a wicked quick 6.523-second pass at 210.08 mph in his #JHGDriven Pro Stocker to slide right into the No. 1 spot. To shine in the first race of the Countdown is particularly uplifting after the team was challenged to make fruitful passes for most of the regular season.
"We were a new team this year, and we knew it would take some time," said Butner. "But this is a new car that we brought out in Topeka, and we're very happy with it. Now, we're competitive. Right from the start, this new car has been pretty good, and these last three runs have been very good."
Butner entered the Countdown in the No. 11 spot, and although he is still eligible to compete for a second series title while outside of the Top 10, Butner will have a mountain to climb to make up the 110-point difference between himself and the top spot.
"Our goal is to go some rounds, get to a final, then try to win a race or two – then we'll go from there," he said.
Through the regular season, when the relentless JHG crew battled race after race but came up short, Butner didn't take it to heart and was refreshed and cool-headed coming into this weekend's Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
"I can always see down the road," he said. "It's like buying an old car that needs some work done, you have to look down the road and think about what it's going to become. My mental state is great, and I'm always happy – whether I'm in my Super Gas car or watching Randi Lyn [Shipp, fiancée] in the Stocker. We're here to have a good time, and when you have a good time, you can turn win lights on."
After winning Super Gas at the U.S. Nationals two weeks ago, Butner is riding a wave of momentum. He closed out Friday at Maple Grove with the provisional Pro Stock pole, and he also ended the day with two round wins in his Super Gas Corvette roadster in the books. He'll be aiming to preserve the No. 1 on Saturday as well as continue going rounds in Super Gas.
"This is for Jason Johnson and Johnson's Horsepowered Garage and all they do," said Butner. "He put a lot of faith in us, and he knows, we have a great team. Now we have something to build on, and we can continue to do better. There's always more."