From Retirement To Winner’s Circle – Butner Wins Pro Stock At Pomona

After winning the world championship in 2017, Bo Butner barely made the countdown to the championship last year, prompting him to announce he was stepping away from the class. Shortly after his announcement, the NHRA shortened the Pro Stock schedule to 18 races, while led to Butner reversing his decision.

At the season-opening Winternationals last weekend in Pomona, CA, Butner made it clear he’s back to compete for the championship when he fought his way to the finals and took out his KB Racing stablemate Jason Line to earn the event win and take an early lead in the points.

Butner entered eliminations on Sunday from the 3rd qualifying spot and took out #14 qualifier Alan Prusiensky with a stellar 6.501 at 212 MPH, a run that would stand as the quickest of the weekend for the class. Chris McGaha strapped a .006 reaction time on Butner in the second round, but slowed to an 8.95 while Bo streaked to a 6.526 to go to the semifinals, where he would face the always-tough Erica Enders.

Known for her stellar lights, Enders was uncharacteristically late with a .070 light, leaving her three hundredths behind Butner, who would pull away with a quicker 6.51 to Enders’ solid, but losing 6.527, sending him to the finals to face Line. Neither driver drilled the tree in the final, with Butner taking a small holeshot and setting up what should have been a close race.

However, Line’s engine would give up the ghost around half track, giving him the worst best seat in the house to watch Bo drive away and take the win with a 6.522, capping a great day of consistently quick runs with a trip to the Winner’s Circle.

Butner will head to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park with a 23 point lead over Line, who sits 17 points ahead of Enders. Our own Alex Laughlin sits in 4th after racing his way the other semifinal.