Tony Bartone is in his final weekend as the driver of Jim Dunn’s nitro flopper. This weekend could be his last as a nitro Funny Car racer, and possibly nitro altogether.

Bartone plans to race next season, but on a smaller scale and in his old Top Alcohol Funny Car stomping grounds.

“I’m gonna get back some time and spend it with my family,” said Bartone, a 28-time winner in the Top Alcohol ranks. “You can run about eight or ten races less than on the professional series. That’s the game plan for right now.” Tony Bartone is in his final weekend as the driver of Jim Dunn’s nitro flopper. This weekend could be his last as a nitro Funny Car racer, and possibly nitro altogether.

Bartone plans to race next season, but on a smaller scale and in his old Top Alcohol Funny Car stomping grounds.

“I’m gonna get back some time and spend it with my family,” said Bartone, a 28-time winner in the Top Alcohol ranks. “You can run about eight or ten races less than on the professional series. That’s the game plan for right now.”

So he’s gunning for Frank Manzo? Maybe, maybe not, he responds.

“Why not?” Bartone asked. “Frankie and I have raced against one another for many years and we are friends.”

Bartone is clearly grateful for the opportunity the Dunn family provided him, an opportunity which yielded his one and only national event victory in Seattle, Wa., earlier this season.

“I am thankful for the opportunity they provided,” Bartone said. “I just want to slow down. I want to see my kids grow up and my one son is eight years old. I don’t get to spend a lot of time with him and there were times I didn’t get to see him for weeks on end. Besides the racing, I am involved in other businesses. I’m not always at home in Florida and that makes it tough.

“Maybe someday I will come back to nitro racing if the deal is right. I’m happy with this. I will still be racing.”