The engine that helped Marcus Butner set a new PDRA Pro Nitrous speed record at the 2025 Brian Olson Memorial World Finals at Virginia Motorsports Park has a special history. It originally belonged to the late Lizzy Musi, who set the previous record back in 2018. In a fitting twist, it was Lizzy’s own Musi engine that ultimately powered Butner to break her long-standing mark.
Musi established the previous record at the 2018 PDRA World Finals at Virginia Motorsports Park with a blistering 209.23-mph pass. That record stood unchallenged for seven years — a rarity in the rapidly evolving world of Pro Modified racing. In the first round of eliminations at this year’s World Finals, Butner drove his Jay Cox-tuned “Heartbreaker” ’69 Camaro to a 209.98-mph pass, setting a new record with the very same engine Lizzy once campaigned.
“We give Lizzy full credit for that,” Butner said of the record. “I think she was looking down on us and smiling. We couldn’t have done it without Pat. He helps us all the time, and we did get that motor right out of Lizzy’s car and put it in mine. It’s legit. It’s her doing, and I really think the speed record should say ‘Lizzy Musi Speed Record’ and then whatever it is.”
The moment carried extra meaning for tuner Jay Cox, who once raced against Lizzy before moving into his current role with Butner Motorsports. Cox had long admired Lizzy’s accomplishment and set his sights on eventually surpassing it, but only in the right way.
“I’ve chased that thing from the time they set it,” Cox said. “People from the outside looking in, they don’t realize it, most of these records, if they last a year, they’re lucky. That deal has lasted seven years. It’s something that’s not an easy feat. Not running anything else – straight nitrous, no push system. I don’t think people realize the significance of it, what they did that many years ago.
“Me and Pat were talking about it,” Cox continued. “I said, ‘Pat, I’m gonna break that record in Virginia. It’s only right to do it with her motor.’ That’s the last motor she owned. I bought it from her. I don’t know of any record that’s ever been held that long. It’s impressive. I love Pat, love Lizzy, and whether you like it or not, you have to respect what they did back then.”
For Pat Musi, seeing Butner and Cox make history with Lizzy’s engine was deeply meaningful.
“It means a lot that one of our customers now holds the record and that they did it with Lizzy’s engine,” Pat said. “Marcus and Jay dedicated it to Lizzy as soon as they set the record. That says a lot about them. It says a lot about this sport. We’re proud to call them friends and customers and thank them for honoring Lizzy’s incredible legacy.”
