Anderson Retains Pro Stock Points Lead

Four-time champion Greg Anderson and reigning Pro Stock champ Jason Line got to celebrate with their KB Racing teammate Bo Butner at the 30th annual Spring Nationals in Houston. Butner, a 15-time NHRA Sportsman winner, claimed the first Pro Stock trophy of his career in his eighth final round appearance in the extremely competitive category.

Butner’s engines are built in the KB Racing shop, home to Summit Racing drivers Anderson and Line. Butner had the car to beat in his previous final rounds but a win had eluded him. “It’s been dangled out in front of me, and today it happened. Who knows, maybe it will start rolling like a snowball,” he said.

The No. 2 qualifier, Butner won his first round meeting with veteran Pro Stock competitor Allen Johnson with a 6.523 second, 213.33 mph pass to Johnson’s 6.567/211.16. With a bye run in round two, Butner faced Greg Anderson in the semi-finals.

When his Anderson was .012-second too quick at the tree, Butner was awarded the automatic win. The Floyds Knobs, Indiana-based driver made a 6.536/212.69 pass that was the quickest and fastest of the round and good for lane choice over No. 1 qualifier Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final.

The pair left the starting line with identical .061-second reaction times, but Butner surged ahead with a 6.550/212.26 victory over his challenger’s 6.562/212.03.

“I don’t care if it’s Super Street or Pro Stock, it never gets old standing on that stage,” said Butner, who moved up to second in the Pro Stock standings. “I have to thank my crew, everybody at Jim Butner Auto who supports me, and of course Ken Black, KB Racing, and the Summit Racing guys. It’s just a great group, and I’m proud to be part
of it.”

Greg Anderson’s day began on a high note as he sailed past Alan Prusiensky in the first round 6.536/211.46 to 6.588/211.03. Anderson had an advantage on the starting line in the second round, leaving with a .025-second reaction time and pairing it with a 6.558/211.73 to beat Vincent Nobile’s .045 RT and 6.590/211.73.

“I’m happier than heck for Bo Butner,” said Anderson. “That’s cool. He’s a heck of a racer, and we’re having fun racing with him. He’s just too good of a racer to not win a race, and he got it done today.”

Anderson leaves Houston with the points lead.

For the first time since the Sonoma race in 2016, Jason Line exited in the first round of eliminations. The early ending didn’t dampen his spirits though, as he was pleased to witness Butner’s hard-fought win.

“I’m super, excited and happy for Bo, and I’m proud to be part of that as well,” said Line, who is now third in the Pro Stock points. “It’s a fun thing to watch somebody’s dream come true. I can promise you that he appreciates this probably more than anybody.”

Funny Car driver, tuner and crew chief Tim Wilkerson wrestled to find a way to make his powerful Ford Shelby Mustang happy, but his efforts were curtailed in the first round of eliminations.

In qualifying, the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car clocked a best time of 3.946/322.34 to secure his spot as the No. 8 seed, setting him up for a first-round meeting with Alexis DeJoria. Wilkerson’s weekend ended in a cloud of tire smoke soon after he left the starting line, giving DeJoria the win.

“The clutch has been throwing us curves all year, and it’s not nearly as friendly as it was last year, Wilkerson said. “But we go to Charlotte in just a few days, and we’re going to to find a way to get through that.”

Final Round Results
Top Fuel—Leah Pritchett (3.781/321.96) defeated Steve Torrence
(3.787/322.11)

Funny Car—Ron Capps (4.004/284.33) defeated Robert Hight (Foul)

Pro Stock— Bo Butner (6.550/212.26) defeated Jeg Coughlin Jr. (6.562/212.03)

Next Race
The next race in the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule is the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina, April 28-30.

For more information and complete race results visit DragRaceCentral.com.