Like many of the drivers in the Pro Stock pits, Bo Butner is worried about the short fields and perceived lack of competitiveness in the class.

Despite a much more competitive season than the class endured a year ago, the reality is that the Pro Stock class just doesn’t have the competition - or competitors - that it has enjoyed in the past.

While rumors continue to circulate as to the future of the class, with whispered changes ranging from more car alterations to a reduction in the number of Pro Stock-contested races similar to the Pro Stock Motorcycle arrangement, one thing is certain, the future is uncertain.

“I just wish they would leave it alone for a little bit,” said current Pro Stock points leader Bo Butner. “It is really competitive right now. Everybody has their favorite drivers and now 10 out of the 16 drivers have a chance to win. It was one sided last year, I understand that. We just have to get a little better jump. Nothing is going to make a guy build a Pro Stock car because it is just too costly, but it is like that with every class.

“We are low on car counts, but Top Fuel and Funny Car are right there with us. The bikes are strong, and they have a shorter season, but going to a shorter season for us might actually hurt us a little bit more.”

When asked specifically about the rumored move to a shortened season, Butner admitted he was concerned how that would be perceived by both the sponsors and the fans, reducing the class to a less-than-full-time eliminator.

“These guys I am with are financed and backed by a real sponsor,” Butner said. “To the old school guys like Greg (Anderson) and them, yeah, it would make it not a fully professional class. Maybe the NHRA should look at doing the whole series less, not just one class. People would get more bang for their buck and travel more.”

For now, Butner says he can’t worry about the future, all he can do is focus on the present, and that includes leading the points at the halfway point of the year.

“All I can say is that it is all rolling my way right now,” Butner said. “You look up at that hill and want to reach the top, but now we have reached the top and are rolling over it. Last year I had a good car and should have won a lot more than what I did. Everything is just clicking right now, but it is getting tougher to win now.

“I figured, with the team I am with, knowing the guys over here and what they are doing, giving me as good as stuff as what they run, that we would be good. But being this good for this amount of time is sometime we are enjoying.”