One race after winning his first NHRA POWERade Funny Car national event, Tony Bartone learned you’re only as good as your last national event victory. He was the only non-qualifier this weekend in either nitro category.

That’s okay for Bartone, as he spent much of the week prior enjoying the spoils of his victory. He relaxed quite a bit, and admitted he’s grown fond of his first professionally-earned trophy.

The 2008 season, as evidenced by his Sonoma shortcoming has been one of feast or famine. One race after winning his first NHRA POWERade Funny Car national event, Tony Bartone learned you’re only as good as your last national event victory. He was the only non-qualifier this weekend in either nitro category.

That’s okay for Bartone, as he spent much of the week prior enjoying the spoils of his victory. He relaxed quite a bit, and admitted he’s grown fond of his first professionally-earned trophy.

The 2008 season, as evidenced by his Sonoma shortcoming has been one of feast or famine.

“Well you know anything could happen,” Bartone said. “I said to a good friend of mine after we won on Sunday night, I said ‘If I told you that I was going to go to Seattle and John Force wasn’t going to qualify and Tony Bartone was going to win. What would you say to me?’ I can’t say his answer, but you can imagine.”

Bartone knows the time is now to strike if the Jim Dunn team hopes to get into the top ten for the championship. While three of the four professional divisions hold drivers who could clinch playoff berths, the Funny Car division is still wide open.

“I’ve been an NHRA fan since I was very young. I’d have to wait until every February on Wide World of Sports the Winternationals when I was ten years old,” Bartone admitted. “I don’t think the Nitro Funny Car class has ever been more competitive.”