Randi Lyn Butner has rewritten the record books in drag racing, becoming the first driver to break the elusive 3-second barrier in the Extreme Pro Stock category. This milestone feat happened on Friday night at the Virginia Motorsports Park during the PDRA Pro Line Racing Brian Olson Memorial World Finals, presented by ProCharger.
Butner's run was a lightning-fast 3.997-second pass, reaching a speed of 176.37mph, setting a new precedent for Liberty's Gears Extreme Pro Stock.
Randi Lyn Butner's historic drive has established her as the provisional No. 1 qualifier in the final race of the 2024 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series. As Butner achieved this remarkable time, her husband, Bo Butner, raced in the opposite lane.
Butner thanked her crew chief and engine builder, Frank Gugliotta.
"It really means a lot to do that for Frank," she said via Drag Illustrated. She also admitted that entering the Mountain Motor Pro Stock wasn't initially her idea, but instead her husband, team owner Richard Freeman, Frank Gugliotta, and their sponsors', who were confident in her capabilities.
"I just kind of lucked into this position that so many racers would die to have," she added.
The journey toward this historic achievement is rooted in Butner's impressive career in drag racing. Starting at the age of 8 in junior dragsters, she has amassed over 26 years of experience, securing championships in the NHRA's Stock Eliminator category. With seven wins and a Division 3 Stock championship, her switch to the Mountain Motor Pro Stock was a well-calculated move, supported by her extensive background in competitive racing.
In 2024, Butner moved to the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class, facilitated by her husband Bo and crew chief Frank Gugliotta. This class, known for its powerful 800-plus-cubic-inch engines, posed a new challenge for Butner, who had to undergo a rigorous licensing process early in the year. She successfully earned her license in mid-April, with a pass at Virginia Motorsports Park, readying her for her record-breaking performance.
Having both raced and won in the IHRA Pro Stock category, Gugliotta serves as the crew chief and engine builder, bringing valuable expertise to the team. His involvement, alongside the support from Elite Motorsports, owned by Richard Freeman, has been crucial in Randi Lyn Butner's success in Mountain Motor Pro Stock.
John Montecalvo, a defending event winner and former world champion, closely followed Butner with a run matching the previous record, clocking in at 4.000 seconds at 180.40mph. Johnny Pluchino secured the third spot with a 4.014-second run at 180.89mph.
Recognition for Butner's achievement came swiftly with the awarding of a custom shifter-based trophy, a championship ring, and a $3,500 check from Liberty's Gears.
"I really did not do my best job shifting," she admitted. "I think it was just meant to be. It was meant to be Frank's."
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