Facing new NHRA regulations that limited the performance of their record-setting injected-nitro combination, the Bartone Bros. Racing team returned to its proven supercharged alcohol setup and promptly won the Top Alcohol Funny Car title at this weekend’s NHRA Nationals.
Driver Sean Bellemeur and the team claimed their fifth win of the season by piloting the “Pirate Ship” to a final-round victory over Shane Westerfield with a 5.54-second pass at 261 mph.
The return to their championship-winning car came after a strong but regulation-hampered run with the injected-nitro setup, which had broken records earlier in the year. New rules limiting nitro to 91 percent rendered the configuration significantly less competitive, pushing the team to revert to their dominant 2024 combination.
“Our injected car became a middle-of-the-pack machine,” Bellemeur said. “We’ve been through a lot this season, and it was time to remind people who we are.”
Bellemeur, of Placentia, California, defeated Maddi Gordon, Bob McCosh, and Ryan Stack en route to his 61st career final-round appearance. His .036-second reaction time in the final helped secure the win and continued the team’s unbeaten streak with the alcohol combination this season.
The switch back to the blown alcohol setup was a strategic move rooted in experience. The Bartone crew, often compared to early Pro Comp teams who brought multiple cars to events, once again demonstrated the benefits of flexibility and preparation.
Earlier this season, the team made history by setting the national record in Gainesville with a 5.330-second run at 281.42 mph — the first 280-mph pass in class history. Bellemeur followed that with a 5.317-second run at the Gatornationals and a pair of national event wins in the injected-nitro car.
Despite those achievements, Bellemeur emphasized that his racing roots and heart lie with the more technical and challenging blown alcohol cars.
“As fun as the injected nitro project was, I’m back in my hot rod now,” Bellemeur said. “Blown alcohol is unpredictable and technical — it keeps you sharp. I’ve driven this style for over 20 years, and it’s where I belong.”
The victory in Norwalk came under hot conditions, testing both driver and crew. Bellemeur praised the team’s resilience and execution during back-to-back warm-weather weekends.
“Tony [Bartone] gives us the motivation, and [crew chief] Steve Boggs tunes it perfectly,” he said. “Our crew — Troy Green, Nick Stoms, Justin Taylor, Garrett Bateman, Brian Gawlik, Lauren McMaster, and Matt Krebs — earned every win light today.”
The team’s only losses this year have come using the injected-nitro setup. There was a loss at the Norwalk Cavalcade of Stars event the week before in the final round. But the team could consider that a reacquaintance loss. With five wins in seven starts using the alcohol configuration, the Bartone Bros. reaffirmed their dominance in Top Alcohol Funny Car competition.
Bellemeur acknowledged the team’s struggles and outside skepticism but said that adversity only fueled their drive.
“A lot of negative energy was thrown our way,” he said. “We’ve got a point to prove, and this win sends the message.”
The win at Norwalk was more than just a return to form — it was also personal. Bellemeur called it a redemption moment following challenges faced by the team’s sports car outfit in Europe.
“Norwalk is my favorite track,” he said. “To win here, at a national event, on a hot weekend — it was huge for this team.”
