BAYTOWN, Texas – Bo Butner has been fortunate enough to drive a number of different successful cars throughout his time racing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series sportsman ranks.

Now in his second season racing in Pro Stock in the NHRA’s marquee Mello Yello Series, Butner may have found the best situation yet in his racing career. Butner is part of the three-car KB Racing team with standouts and world champions Greg Anderson and Jason Line, and the 15-time sportsman winner has quickly taken advantage of the opportunity.

Butner has one final round appearance in four races, one No. 1 qualifying spot and is currently third in points, behind only Line and Anderson in the young 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Butner appears to be inching closer to his first career Pro Stock victory at the controls of his Jim Butner Auto Chevrolet Camaro, and it could happen at the 29th annual NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway, April 29-May 1.

“You get spoiled because I’ve been lucky enough to hop in a lot of good cars, but this feels great and I am real happy to start the season like this,” Butner said. “It’s been a great start to the season but some other teams are catching up. Our goal is to try to be first through third the whole year and try to finish that way. It’s motivating not just for me, but everyone that helps us. My crew guys, they want to win and that’s great to have that on your shoulder. With a car like this, I feel like a win is coming.”

Last year’s winners of the event that takes place just east of downtown Houston were Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and local favorite Erica Enders (Pro Stock). The race will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). The tradition-rich race near Houston is the sixth of 24 in the 2016 season and it hasn’t taken long for Butner to get the hang of the new-look Pro Stock cars.

The sleek new Pro Stock cars feature fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, flat hoods and a 10,500 RPM rev-limiter, but the entire KB Racing team has been a step ahead of the talented class through four events. Anderson and Line have swapped victories at all four races, with Line’s victory at the most recent race in Las Vegas came against Butner in the final round.

Line has advanced to the final round at every event so far and sits atop the points standings, but Butner said the early-season success has only pushed the team harder.

“That’s what is amazing about these guys and all the teams,” Butner said. “None of them are satisfied and none of them ever quit working. It’s a lot of fine-tuning right now. For some reason, my car was a lot happier than Greg’s or Jason’s in Vegas for most of the weekend. It’s funny how it changes from race to race, but everyone keeps working. They’ve tested two to three times since then and it’s a group that’s not scared to work. It says a lot about this team.”

Each of the three have qualified in the No. 1 spot, with Butner claiming top qualifying honors in Phoenix. He’s quickly shown that his talents translate well to Pro Stock, even dating back to his rookie season a year ago. After a slow start, Butner was impressive down the stretch, advancing to two semifinals and one final round over the final five races.

That has carried over to 2016, even with the vast changes in the class. Butner has improved on his qualifying positions and has adapted to the new car in a hurry.

“I’m not saying it has been easy, but it seemed like the transition for these three cars has gone very smooth,” Butner said. “That’s been very pleasing. Where I’ve been fortunate is I’ve driven so many different types of cars. They all drove different and it was more just about self-discipline, concentration level and staying focused. I would probably drive just about anything.

“This year, it’s still not been easy to drive, but it’s gone well. I’ve been fortunate enough to run fuel injection before and I know they can have a mind of their own.”

Butner also knows there may be the occasional bump in the road despite the hot start. That’s a nod to the competition level in Pro Stock more than anything else. Enders claimed the victory in Houston last year en route to her second straight world championship, while other talented stars in the class include five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., Drew Skillman, last year’s top rookie, Vincent Nobile, Allen Johnson and Texans Chris McGaha and Alex Laughlin.

But even when adversity comes, Butner knows his team will respond in a strong fashion.

“I’m not too worried,” Butner said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a time where we all don’t qualify well, but we’re capable of winning every race in one of these three cars. That’s what we’re looking forward to and I feel like I’ve got a good shot to compete for a championship. I’m definitely fortunate to be a part of this team.”

In Top Fuel, last year’s winner Doug Kalitta will attempt to tie Kenny Bernstein and Larry Dixon for the most class wins at Royal Purple Raceway with three. Others to watch include defending world champion Antron Brown, who won the most recent race in Las Vegas, points leader Brittany Force, who won her first career Top Fuel race earlier this year in Gainesville, eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, Winternationals winner Steve Torrence, Richie Crampton, J.R. Todd and Shawn Langdon.

In Funny Car, Capps earned his third Houston win in 2015 and already has a victory on his scorecard in 2016. Standing in his way of a fourth victory at the ultra-quick Texas dragstrip is a star-studded Funny Car lineup, including 2014 SpringNationals winner and points leader Robert Hight, seven-time event winner John Force, defending world champion Del Worsham, national record holder Jack Beckman, Pennzoil Dodge driver Matt Hagan, Las Vegas winner Alexis DeJoria, Phoenix winner Tim Wilkerson, Courtney Force, Chad Head, Tommy Johnson Jr. and Cruz Pedregon.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

The first round of Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will start at 4:30 p.m. on Friday followed by the night session that will begin at 7 p.m. The final two rounds of qualifying will take place Saturday, April 30 at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 1.

For the Friday night qualifying session there will be a special pre-race ceremony highlighting some of the nitro stars and will feature a special Ladies Night promotion. All female spectators will receive free admission with a reserved seat on the spectator side of the track. This offer is available for walk-up ticket purchases only. In another promotion, kids 13 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult ticket.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (281) 383-7223 or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com. For more information about the NHRA visitwww.NHRA.com.

Before the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series arrives in Houston, the circuit will visit Charlotte, N.C. for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods, April 22-24 at zMAX Dragway. Keep up with all the NHRA action on Fox Sports 1.

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NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 29th annual NHRA SpringNationals, the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.  Competition also will be featured in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series and the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series.

WHERE: Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas. From Interstate 10 take the State Hwy. 99 (Grand Parkway) exit, which is exit 799. Take a right on State Hwy. 99 and go to the first exit (2 miles) which is FM 565. Take a right on FM 565 and Royal Purple Raceway will be on your right. For additional information about directions please visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com.

COURSE: Championship dragstrip; Track elevation is 10 feet above sea level; Track direction is south to north.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, April 29-May 1

SCHEDULE:        

FRIDAY, April 29 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 4 and 6 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, April 30 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 2:30 p.m. Round 1 of eliminations at 5 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1 and 3:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 1 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:      

Friday, April 29, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).

Saturday, April 30, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at Midnight (ET).

Sunday, May 1, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 5 p.m. (ET).

2015 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock.

MOST WINS: John Force, 7, FC; Warren Johnson, 6, PS; Jeg Coughlin, 4, PS; Tony Pedregon, 4, FC; Kenny Bernstein, 3, TF; Ron Capps, 3, FC; Larry Dixon, 3, TF; Mike Edwards, 3, PS; Bob Glidden, 3, PS; Cruz Pedregon, 3, FC.

TRACK RECORDS:            

Top Fuel – 3.726 seconds by Tony Schumacher, April ’15; 330.07 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’15.

Funny Car – 3.988 seconds by Jack Beckman, April ’15; 320.81 mph by Matt Hagan, April ’15.

Pro Stock – 6.519 seconds by Jason Line, April ’15; 212.66 mph by Mike Edwards, April ’13.

NATIONAL RECORDS:    

Top Fuel – 3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.

Funny Car – 3.879 sec. by Jack Beckman, March ‘16, Gainesville, Fla.; 331.45 mph by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’15, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

TICKETS: For tickets call (281) 383-RACE (7223). Tickets also available online at www.royalpurpleraceway.com.

Story and photos courtesy of the NHRA