DINWIDDIE, Va. (May 20, 2019) – For the second consecutive event, veteran Sportsman competitor Bo Butner reached the final round of the SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown. The 2017 NHRA Pro Stock champion was seeking a double-up win at the NHRA Virginia Nationals, and he came very close. Butner defeated Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson in the Pro Stock final but came away empty-handed in the Showdown, where the trophy went to longtime friendly rival Drew Skillman.
“Drew is a good friend and a good racer, and I’m glad he’s in that and not Pro Stock. Good job to them, but I really, really wanted to double up,” said Butner, who made it happen with two Sportsman wins in Las Vegas in 2012 but has yet to pull off the elusive Sportsman/Pro double.
Only one driver in the history of NHRA has ever claimed a Sportsman/Pro double-up win. Pat Austin did it not once, but twice: Topeka 1991 and Phoenix 1992, in Top Fuel and Alcohol Funny Car.
The Factory Stock Showdown is a specialty series that takes place during select NHRA national events. The competition showcases the drag-racing ready, factory-built vehicles produced by Detroit’s Big Three by way of the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, the Dodge Challenger Drag Pak, and Chevrolet’s COPO Camaro.
Butner will have several more opportunities to attempt the double in his 2019 Summit Racing-branded Ford Cobra Jet Mustang, a car owned and crew chiefed by Darrel Herron and tuned by Jason Lee.
The event in Virginia was the third of eight for the 2019 SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown. Leading up to race three of the series, Butner did not qualify for the first event in Gainesville but came back with a vengeance to reach the final round in Charlotte where, he fell to Skillman’s father, Bill.
“I feel good about my Summit Racing Cobra Jet; we’ve made good strides with it,” said Butner, who was the No. 1 qualifier in the Showdown with a best time of 7.943-second at 173.38 mph. In the closing act, he was 7.989, 171.29 to Skillman’s winning 7.990, 170.69, losing their match on a holeshot due to reaction time. Butner was .054 at the tree to his opponent’s .028.
“We made a very good run in the final,” he said. “The track was great, even if it was hot. I got very heated today. It’s very hot out and I’m way out of shape to be driving two cars seven rounds in one day, but it was very fun, and I’d like to do it again. It was a good day, and I’m ready for the next one.”
BO BUTNER
Summit Racing Cobra Jet Mustang
Position in standings following event: No. 3
Butner’s results:
R1: Bo Butner defeated Kevin Skinner, 7.992-second at 172.17 mph to 13.566, 75.19
R2: Butner def. Pete Gasko Jr., 8.015, 176.63 to 11.237, 108.05
R3: Butner def. David Barton, 7.985, 172.72 to 14.787, 65.40
R4: Drew Skillman def. Butner, 7.990, 170.69 to 7.9898, 171.29
2019 Factory Stock Showdown Championship Standings
(after the NHRA Virginia Nationals, race 3 of 8)
1. Drew Skillman, 294
2. Bill Skillman, 212
3. Bo Butner, 205
4. David Barton, 170
5. Chris Holbrook, 161
6. Randy Taylor, 142
7. Scott Libersher, 138
8t. Stephen Bell, 137
8t. Kevin Skinner, 137
10. Carl Tasca, 122
11. Arthur Kohn, 118
12. Leah Pritchett, 98
13. David Janac, 97
14. Pete Gasko Jr., 95
15. Geoff Turk, 81
2019 SCHOOL OF AUTOMOTIVE MACHINISTS & TECHNOLOGY SCHEDULE
March 14-17 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla.
April 26-28 NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Charlotte, N.C.
May 17-19 Virginia NHRA Nationals, Richmond, Va.
June 7-9 Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals, Topeka, Kan.
June 20-23 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
Aug. 28-Sept. 2 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis
Sept. 27-29 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis
Oct. 17-20 AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, Dallas
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