BO BUTNER TAKES PROVISIONAL NO. 1 QUALIFYING SPOT IN PRO STOCK

Written by Tracy Renck, photo by Roger Richards    Sun, 2019-09-01 08:00

 

After three qualifying sessions at the U.S. Nationals, Bo Butner is setting the pace in the Pro Stock class.

Butner, the points leader and 2017 Pro Stock world champ, clocked a 6.559-second elapsed time at 210.28.

Butner knocked his Ken Black Racing Summit Racing Equipment teammate Jason Line off the top spot at 6.570 seconds. Line clocked a 6.561-second ET and is second on the qualifying sheet.

“I’m going to have a hard time sleeping (Saturday night) taking that from Jason,” Butner said with a chuckle. “It was a very good pass, but I’ve had the car for weeks now and I just had not driven it well. I think I drove it easy that time and I’m very happy. Our Jim Butner Auto Group, Speed Dog, Summit Racing Camaro was awesome. It has been and I’m just ready to go racing. I think this feels like Day 20 of Indy.”

Butner has never won at the U.S. Nationals in his career in the Sportsman and Pro Stock ranks. The Indiana native has two chances to get his first Indy win this weekend as he’s competing in Pro Stock and the Factory Stock classes.

“If there was a golf cart class and I was able to and capable of winning that, just to win Indy, I don’t care what it is,” Butner said. “I have not won (in Indy). I have been close a few times and I’m just happy to have the ability and have the chance to race at the U.S. Nationals. The more you sit and think about it, you get goose bumps. It’s cool.”

Butner didn’t want to make any bold predictions of whether his 6.559-second lap would hold the top spot through the final two qualifying sessions Sunday.

“I think it is going to be tough to get around it, but again we have some KB cars behind us,” Butner said. “All the cars are pretty close. We made a good run and if gets hot (Sunday) it will be tough (to beat that time). I think a lot of teams will go more into race day (Sunday) for Monday, I know we will. Who knows, if it holds up it is good and if were to be bumped out of the top four, I would be very shocked.”

 

 

 
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