Sonoma, Calif. (July 28, 2019) – In the Sportsman ranks at the 2019 NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Pro Stock points leader Bo Butner debuted in the Super Gas category driving a recently acquired ’63 Chevrolet Corvette roadster. As he did when he debuted in Super Street at the Columbus Sportsnationals in 2014, Butner won his very first attempt in the class.
“I knew coming into this that the car was good. I’m very happy with it, and I’m entered for next week in Seattle – but you ask yourself, do you race it or do you be one and done and perfect? We’ll probably race it, though,” said Butner, who has now won in six different categories: Pro Stock, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Street, and Super Gas. Only seven drivers have ever accomplished the feat.
Butner purchased the car from West Coast racer Aaron Kinard. It is the same equipment in which Kinard finished No. 2 in the nation last season.
“One of my friends, Ron Erks, had this car back in 2000, and I think he won the world championship with it. Aaron Kinard kept it good and maybe even made it better,” said the now 27-time NHRA national event winner.
Butner defeated Linzi Meserve in the Sonoma final round, 9.949-second at 160.50 to 9.963, 158.76.
“Really, I felt like we were very lucky this weekend,” he continued. “But the guys helping me, like Kyle Seipel, Justin Lamb, Pete Biondo – all those guys – they’re some of the world’s best ever, and I have a lot of faith in them. Randi Lyn [Shipp, fiancée and seven-time Stock Eliminator winner] is doing her own math, and she’s right there with them on what to dial. I feel very confident with all that help. It’s a good feeling. They had it done right.”
The Jim Butner Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stocker was also on par this weekend. Butner qualified No. 4 and went to the semifinals, where he fell to Laughlin.
“It’s a lot of fun, and believe it or not it keeps my mind off the other stuff. I always race better with two cars,” said Butner. “I got out of my element in the Pro Stock semis, and whenever I worry about anything happening in the other lane, I have a tendency to mess up. That’s exactly what happened. I hated it for KB Racing – it should have been two KB Racing cars in the final. But Greg got it done, so we’re happy.”
The next event on the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour will be the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash., August 2-4.
Pro Stock Results
KB Racing, Jim Butner Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro
Results:
R1: Bo Butner defeated Steve Matusek, 6.561-second at 210.47 mph to 6.611, 209.49
R2: Butner def. Chris McGaha, 6.593, 210.05 to 6.745, 180.28
R3: Alex Laughlin def. Butner, 6.614, 209.95 to 6.632, 208.88
Super Gas Results
1963 Chevrolet Corvette roadster
Results:
R1: Bo Butner defeated Todd Barton, .017-second reaction time, 9.911-second at 170.67 mph to 9.874, 161.44
R2: Butner def. Ted Seipel, .016, 9.966, 169.64 to [broke]
R3: Butner def. George Scott, .015, 9.804, 163.85 to .017, 9.906, 165.92
R4: Butner def. [bye], .030, 9.981, 170.51
R5: Butner def. Steve Williams, .017, 9.915, 171.82 to -.007, 9.885, 165.21
R6: Butner def. Lynzi Meserve, .021, 9.949, 160.50 to .027, 9.963, 158.76
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