Reigning NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Sean Bellemeur will make his debut this weekend at the International Hot Rod Association’s event in Columbus, Ohio, bringing back out his injected-nitro combination in a class that hasn’t seen the configuration in nearly three decades.
Bellemeur, who completed a perfect NHRA season in 2024, will campaign the injected nitro car in what he called a fresh opportunity and a return to open, inclusive racing. His entry marks the first time an injected nitro Funny Car has competed in IHRA competition since Scott Weis, Gary Rettel, Cavaleiri Brothers, and three others fielded the combination in 1998.
“This year has made me three years older, just between the controversy of the injected car with NHRA and the constant rules changes and switching back and forth between combinations,” Bellemeur said. “It almost seemed like the good old days when we were at Norwalk with the alcohol car. The racers were friendly again, the car ran great, and we managed to turn on some win lights.”
Bellemeur acknowledged that even the announcement of his Columbus entry reignited old debates about rules and fairness. “From the second it was announced that we were running the injected nitro car, it was right back to the beginning of the season,” he said. “There’s controversy. There are people wanting to know what the rules are going to be, or wanting rules changed. It was crazy.”
The IHRA settled on a 91.5% nitro rule for the injected car, a challenge Bellemeur and his tuner Steve Boggs welcome. “Boggs is looking forward to the challenge, and anytime I can see him excited, that’s a good thing,” Bellemeur said. “I’m excited to see what this IHRA deal is going to be like. Anytime I can go racing with the Killer B’s, I’m excited, for sure.”
Bellemeur’s car revives memories of Weis’ late-1990s injected nitro program, which made headlines before IHRA discontinued the combination in 1999. Bellemeur recalls hearing about it as a young fan growing up around the West Coast alcohol ranks.
“My dad was heavily involved in Top Alcohol racing out here,” Bellemeur said. “We were not unfamiliar with the injected nitro combination in dragsters, because there were guys out here doing it — Chess Bushey, Enriquez, and a few others. I remember my dad and his team keeping a close eye on it and talking about this Funny Car back East that had the combination. Then all of a sudden, it was gone.”
That memory, and the potential for a more open playing field, appeals to Bellemeur. “I’m excited for IHRA to have a little more of an open window,” he said. “It seems inviting for all racers. There seem to be some [Funny Car] Chaos teams interested in this, and some dragsters you’re hearing about that haven’t been running NHRA. Bringing this type of drag racing back to Ohio and Division 3 is really cool.”
For Bellemeur, a West Coast racer, the event offers a rare chance to compete in the Midwest’s storied drag racing scene. “I’ve never really experienced this before,” he said. “I ran one IHRA race in Alcohol Funny Car in Edmonton, Canada, a bunch of years ago, but Alcohol Funny Car was kind of on its way out with IHRA back then. I’m really excited about it. I know there are a lot of long-time, diehard IHRA fans who are excited to see our injected nitro car.”
The event is also a reminder of why Bellemeur continues to push boundaries, even after a dominant NHRA campaign. “This year has been a grind, but going back to something like this feels fresh,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun weekend, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Asked whether he could have summed up his enthusiasm better, Bellemeur chuckled. “Thanks, man. I can tell you what I want to say and what I shouldn’t say,” he joked.
He left little doubt about his motivation heading into the weekend. “Let’s just keep this one on the positive right now,” Bellemeur said.
The IHRA event in Columbus marks a notable milestone for the series as well, as it continues to rebuild its open competition classes more than 15 years after ending its Pro Alcohol Funny Car program. For Bellemeur, it’s a chance to race his preferred combination, in front of new fans, with a throwback feel to the sport’s more experimental days.
Bellemeur summed up his mindset with a trademark mix of humility and confidence. “I’m excited. Anytime I can go racing with my team, I’m in.”
The IHRA’s rejuvenated event promises to draw attention from across the drag racing world, as one of the sport’s top champions brings back a combination many thought they’d never see on track again.
