Semi-final finish in Houston goes long way to erase bad memory
ESPN2/Motel6 Vision
Tony Bartone refused to experience flashbacks during the recently
completed NHRA O’Reilly Springnationals in Houston, Texas. The
determination clearly overrode the memories from one race earlier in
Gainesville, Florida.
Tony Bartone's semi-final finish in Houston was a momentum-builder for the Canidae Pet Foods team. (Roger Richards)
Bartone’s car left the Houston Raceway Park starting line, then the
tires smoked and the car began to move around. Instinctively, Bartone
realized his first round opponent Bob Tasca III was having the same
traction problems.
Bartone, an accomplished Top Alcohol racer in both the dragsters and
Funny Cars, began pedaling. The front wheels hiked up and at one time
all four wheels came off the ground.
Still, Bartone drove to the win light, carding a 6.32 winning elapsed time.