Bo Butner and sponsor Jason Johnson reflect on first season, agree to multi-year #JHGDriven partnership
POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2022) – Pro Stock racer Bo Butner and sponsor Jason Johnson have a lot in common. To start, they both love all things automotive – and they both love NHRA Pro Stock. Johnson, who owns and operates Johnson's Horsepowered Garage in Columbia, Tenn., came on as Butner's primary sponsor for the 2022 season and had such a great time that he's extended their partnership for multiple years. It was announced yesterday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona that Johnson will also be primary sponsor for the Elite Motorsports entry driven by this season's Pro Stock champion, Erica Enders.
"I enjoy being part of this with Bo, Randi Lyn, and the Elite Motorsports team," said Johnson. "It's like a family atmosphere; everyone in this sport welcomes each other. It's 'friendly' competition, and we've enjoyed being part of it this year. It's only going to get better."
Butner, the 2017 world champion, thought he was completely done racing Pro Stock until he and Johnson forged a friendship two years ago. In 2010 and 2011, Johnson's family business at the time – Copart – was the primary sponsor on the Top Fuel dragster driven by Brandon Bernstein, and he never lost the taste for drag racing. As fate would have it, Butner and Johnson entered a conversation about Pro Stock, and eventually, Butner agreed to come out of retirement to pilot a Rick Jones-built Chevrolet Camaro with the bold JHG branding displayed on the door.
"Jason is the reason I came back this year," said Butner, who continues to race competitively in NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series as a Sportsman. "I was retired from Pro Stock, but he's just not going to let that happen. Jason is a great guy, and we just clicked from the beginning. He loves drag racing as much as I do, and we're very fortunate to have him – not only as a sponsor, but as a friend."
With Butner behind the wheel and a trusty, dedicated crew consisting of Robert Freeman, Butch Peterson, Taylor Chomiski and Dylan Mudd preparing their racecar, the team reached the pinnacle of performance in Reading this season, when they earned their first No. 1 qualifier award together. Butner concluded the season with a coveted position in the top 10 in the NHRA Pro Stock standings. Although a win was not to be in their debut season flying the JHG flag, Johnson is elated looking forward.
"I'm very excited about next year," he said. "I hope to see a lot of Wallys for Bo and the team. The car they finished the year with was a new car, they'd only had it half a year, and it runs real good. It's just getting over that hump with the new car jitters.
"I can't wait until the first win happens – it's going to be amazing. It's been a long time coming, but we watched the JEGS car [driven by Elite Motorsports racer Troy Coughlin Jr.] get their first win and then win back-to-back. It was exciting to see their car progress, and we know that our car can do that next year, too."
Butner and his Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro will make their 2023 season debut alongside fellow JHG campaigner Enders at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 9-12, 2023.
"I enjoy being part of this with Bo, Randi Lyn, and the Elite Motorsports team," said Johnson. "It's like a family atmosphere; everyone in this sport welcomes each other. It's 'friendly' competition, and we've enjoyed being part of it this year. It's only going to get better."
Butner, the 2017 world champion, thought he was completely done racing Pro Stock until he and Johnson forged a friendship two years ago. In 2010 and 2011, Johnson's family business at the time – Copart – was the primary sponsor on the Top Fuel dragster driven by Brandon Bernstein, and he never lost the taste for drag racing. As fate would have it, Butner and Johnson entered a conversation about Pro Stock, and eventually, Butner agreed to come out of retirement to pilot a Rick Jones-built Chevrolet Camaro with the bold JHG branding displayed on the door.
"Jason is the reason I came back this year," said Butner, who continues to race competitively in NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series as a Sportsman. "I was retired from Pro Stock, but he's just not going to let that happen. Jason is a great guy, and we just clicked from the beginning. He loves drag racing as much as I do, and we're very fortunate to have him – not only as a sponsor, but as a friend."
With Butner behind the wheel and a trusty, dedicated crew consisting of Robert Freeman, Butch Peterson, Taylor Chomiski and Dylan Mudd preparing their racecar, the team reached the pinnacle of performance in Reading this season, when they earned their first No. 1 qualifier award together. Butner concluded the season with a coveted position in the top 10 in the NHRA Pro Stock standings. Although a win was not to be in their debut season flying the JHG flag, Johnson is elated looking forward.
"I'm very excited about next year," he said. "I hope to see a lot of Wallys for Bo and the team. The car they finished the year with was a new car, they'd only had it half a year, and it runs real good. It's just getting over that hump with the new car jitters.
"I can't wait until the first win happens – it's going to be amazing. It's been a long time coming, but we watched the JEGS car [driven by Elite Motorsports racer Troy Coughlin Jr.] get their first win and then win back-to-back. It was exciting to see their car progress, and we know that our car can do that next year, too."
Butner and his Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro will make their 2023 season debut alongside fellow JHG campaigner Enders at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 9-12, 2023.