Courtesy Drag Illustrated Nate Van Wagnen

Images Geoff Sculley and Courtesy Liberty Gears

 

Longtime NHRA sportsman standout Randi Lyn Butner arrived at Virginia Motorsports Park ahead of the 2024 season to practice doing burnouts in her new ride, the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Elite Motorsports ’20 Camaro Mountain Motor Pro Stock entry. Several months later, she made history at the same track by lighting up the scoreboard with a 3.997-second pass at 176.37 MPH, breaking the elusive 3-second barrier in Extreme Pro Stock and taking the provisional No. 1 spot in the process. It was the culmination of a seasons-long effort by crew chief and engine builder Frank Gugliotta to print that first official 3-second time slip. 

“It really means a lot to do that for Frank,” said Butner, who backed up the record with her 4.012 in the first qualifying session. “This Mountain Motor racing was never my idea. I was perfectly happy in Stock Eliminator. This was all a big collaboration between Bo [Butner, husband], Richard [Freeman, Elite Motorsports team owner], Frank, and our sponsor. They totally thought I could do it and wanted to see what I was made of. I just kind of lucked into this position that so many racers would die to have. 

“I really did not do my best job shifting,” Butner added. “I think it was just meant to be. It was meant to be Frank’s. It was a long time and a lot of things coming together and God willed it to Frank and it’s a whole lot of bookends coming together for him, so I’m really excited for him.”

Butner received a custom shifter-based trophy, championship ring, and $3,500 check from Liberty’s Gears for breaking the 3-second barrier. 

Defending event winner and past world champion John Montecalvo nearly beat Butner to the record when he matched the previous class record with his 4.000 at 180.40 in his Kaase-powered JM Racing ’21 Mustang. Johnny Pluchino went to the No. 3 position in his Kaase-powered Feather-Lite Batteries ’13 Mustang with a 4.014 at 180.89.