Highly successful Alcohol Racer discovers the thrill of victory in the nitro ranks …

 
When the Canidae All Natural Pet Food sponsored team of Jim Dunn left Bandimere Speedway last weekend after a DNQ effort at the NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, there wasn’t much of a sense of jubilation. In fact, there wasn’t much to talk about.

Well, maybe there was.

Highly successful Alcohol Racer discovers the thrill of victory in the nitro ranks …

 
When the Canidae All Natural Pet Food sponsored team of Jim Dunn left Bandimere Speedway last weekend after a DNQ effort at the NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, there wasn’t much of a sense of jubilation. In fact, there wasn’t much to talk about.

Well, maybe there was.

Their car, driven by highly successful alcohol racer Tony Bartone, had an extreme amount of trouble getting from one end of the track to the other.

This wasn’t your average can’t find the combination excuse either.

Bartone’s car blew up. Then it caught fire a couple of times.

That was just one race. Prior to those problems  Bartone had six DNQs and two crashed cars.

Then Bartone delivered for Dunn and Dune delivered for Bartone.

“It’s the old adage that you never say die and you keep plugging, then days like this happen,” Bartone said with a smile, as he spoke in the post-race press conference at the NHRA Schuck’s Auto Parts Nationals in Seattle, WA.

“We were able to turn our program around.”

When a team is in turmoil, one might immediately think more runs and practice are the best elixir to heal the wounds. Not so, if you’re this team.

 

 

This is what you dream about and work your whole life towards – to win in the pro ranks. Winning was special in the alcohol ranks but this was special. It’s what you try to accomplish. - Tony Bartone

Bartone made less runs in two days of qualifying in Seattle than he made on race day. He qualified on Friday and since only 17 cars were in attendance for the event, opted out of Saturday’s two sessions.

“We made our passes on Friday and chose to sit out in the heat on Saturday,” Bartone admitted. “We were lucky enough to come up with a good race day tuneup. It wasn’t perfect but it went rounds.”

It is not an uncommon practice for Dunn to pull his team out of Saturday if the conditions don’t provide a sufficient chance for improvement. Simply put, they aren’t going to make runs for the sake of making them.

Bartone is no stranger to the winner’s circle having claimed 28 victories in the Top Alcohol ranks.

This was a monumental day for the veteran.

“This is what you dream about and work your whole life towards – to win in the pro ranks,” said Bartone. “Winning was special in the alcohol ranks but this was special. It’s what you try to accomplish.” 

At the finish line, Bartone watched as Dunn drove up to celebrate the momentous occasion.

What did Dunn say to his driver?

“Good job kid,” Bartone said, imitating the seasoned Dunn.

The victory came in Bartone’s 119th career start.

FUNNY CAR SUMMER – Bartone has been watching Funny Car racing since the only outlet for television coverage was ABC’s Wide World of Sports. His feeling is the Funny Car class, even though 17 cars made the trek to Seattle, is very strong.

“I think the Funny Car class is as competitive as it’s ever been,” Bartone said.

“Just look at who didn’t qualify, what’s that guy’s name? [John Force]. On any given weekend, there are a number of top teams who don’t get in the show.”

1,000-FOOT = CLOSER RACING – The NHRA’s decision to temporarily shorten the race course to 1,000 feet might have unintentionally made for more side-by-side racing and tighter fields.

The Funny Car field in Seattle spanned just a tenth of a second from No. 1 to No. 16 qualifiers. Bartone entered eliminations as the fifth quickest qualifier while final round opponent Ron Capps started 15th.