Pomona Winternationals Qualifying: Bo Butner No. 5 in the JHG Pro Stock Camaro

POMONA, Calif. (April 1, 2023) – Bo Butner logged his best qualifying appearance to date in 2023 in his Johnson's Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro at this weekend's 63rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Qualified in the No. 5 position, the 2017 world champion is seeking his first win of the season, and his challenge will begin with a first-round meeting with young Mason McGaha.

"I'm excited for tomorrow," said Butner, who hasn't met McGaha in an elimination round since the New England Nationals in mid-2022. "We made two good passes in qualifying with our JHG Pro Stocker, and had a little bit of trouble on that last qualifying run, but it still gave us information that can be useful come Sunday. I like our chances."

Butner has twice won the Winternationals in Pro Stock, and he did so in back-to-back years. He was the 2018 and 2019 winner, and both trophies came with a defeat of three-time world champion Jason Line. Butner's first win at Pomona came in 1999 in Super Stock, when he defeated one of NHRA's most winning Sportsman competitors, Jeff Taylor, for the trophy. He also beat "The Terminator" Peter Biondo there in 2013 for the Stock Eliminator victory, and he claimed the 2017 NHRA Finals win in Pro Stock over Tanner Gray to seal the deal on his championship.

"Pomona has been good to us," said Butner. "We've really enjoyed racing there in the past. We haven't won a race in a long time in Pro Stock, and after getting to the final round last weekend in Phoenix, we know it can and will happen – it's just a matter of when. We qualified well here; it's always so tough in this class now, but if we can continue with what's been working, we have a real chance."

Butner recorded a 6.533-second pass in his first go this weekend, and in warmer conditions during the first round of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge (which also counted as the second round of qualifying), he clocked a 6.554, 210.57 that was bested by Kyle Koretsky by only .008-second. In the third and final qualifier, Butner's #JHGDriven Chevy broke loose from the racing surface and coasted to an 8.769, 96.04.

"It was disappointing that we didn't get a chance to race in the #2Fast2Tasty final, but it was our first shot at that deal, and I think we'll get another at one of these races coming up," said Butner. "But overall, we're happy with our qualifying, and we feel like we have something for Sunday. We'll see."

Eliminations for the 63rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif., are scheduled to begin on Sunday, Apr. 2, at 11:00 a.m. PST.

Qualifying Results:

Q1: 6.533-second at 209.72 mph (No. 5)

Q2: 6.554, 210.57  (No. 5)

Q3: 8.769, 96.04  (No. 5)

Round 1: Bo Butner vs. Mason McGaha

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Standings

(unofficial) after at Pomona 1 qualifying, race 3 of 18

1. Camrie Caruso, 190

2. Troy Coughlin Jr., 189

3. Matt Hartford, 170

4t. Greg Anderson, 165

4t. Kyle Koretsky, 165

6. Bo Butner, 162

7. Mason McGaha, 161

8. Dallas Glenn, 155

9. Aaron Stanfield, 133

10. Cristian Cuadra, 128