Team JHG and driver Bo Butner continue optimistic stride in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS (Oct. 2, 2022) – The Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Pro Stock team – including driver Bo Butner, fiancée Randi Lyn Shipp, and crew members Robert Freeman, Butch Peterson, Taylor Chomiski, and Dylan Mudd – came to St. Louis on an absolute mission. It was the same mission they'd been on for the entire season: to win a race for sponsors Jason and Nikki Johnson and put the JHG Chevrolet Camaro in the spotlight. Despite their very best efforts, the chips did not fall in the favor of the #JHGDriven team, and they will leave the NHRA Midwest Nationals with their sights still firmly locked on the prize.
"It's coming," said Butner. "These guys have worked so hard, and they're not giving up. Today didn't go as planned – we had a little error there – but one of these days, everything is going to fall our way. We're going to get this team to the winner's circle."
Butner qualified in the No. 8 position, thusly landing in the first pair of Pro Stockers to take to the racetrack on Sunday morning. No team wants to be first pair out in the naturally aspirated factory hot rod category, but the No. 8 and 9 qualifiers are typically the last to select their desired position in the run order.
Heading into Sunday, it was inevitable that Butner and opponent Deric Kramer would be the guinea pigs for the rest of the field. In their first-round meeting, Butner took the left lane. He was first to leave the starting line with a .038-second reaction time, but it was Kramer with a .056 and 6.544-second pass at 210.21 mph. Butner's Chevy pulled hard to the left as soon as he launched, and he was forced to shove the clutch in as his car moved briskly toward the guard wall. He slowed to a disappointing 8.985, 100.77.
"It's tough," he said. "You come out here every weekend and you're all trying so hard. You want it for the guys, you want it for your awesome sponsor. But we'll keep going. We're running the double-divisional [Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event] here in St. Louis this weekend, then we'll get ready and head to Dallas. There are three Pro Stock races left this year to get it done, and we're going to keep at it."
The next race on the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series tour will be the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex, October 13-16.
Qualifying results:
Q1: 6.540-second at 211.96 mph (No. 7)
Q2: 6.528, 210.87 (No. 8)
Q3: 6.538, 210.01 (No. 8)
Raceday results:
R1: Deric Kramer defeated Bo Butner, (.056-second reaction time) 6.544-second at 210.21 mph to (.038) 8.985, 100.77
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Standings
after St. Louis, race 16 of 19
1. Erica Enders, 2,427
2. Aaron Stanfield, 2,307
3. Kyle Koretsky, 2,274
4. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,270
5. Greg Anderson, 2,267
6. Dallas Glenn, 2,257
7. Matt Hartford, 2,233
8. Mason McGaha, 2,125
9t. Bo Butner, 2,117
9t. Camrie Caruso, 2,117