Bartone Bros Racing won Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The team had to tune through stop and starts all weekend with delayed running on both Saturday and Sunday due to high winds and cold temperatures in the desert. Returning on Monday to finish off the weekend, Sean Bellemeur lined up the Pirate Ship against Jim Whiteley in the final and ran 5.44 and 266 MPH with a .015 reaction time to take the team’s third win on a Monday.
The victory brings the team their fourth National win to go along with Charlotte, Indy, and Maple Grove. The Killer B’s also have Wally Regional wins at Las Vegas and Norwalk.
“What a marathon,” Bellemeur said. “It’s a high range of emotions. You get yourself up to run, and then you’re not racing. Then you have to try and refocus. The Killer B’s are unbelievable. I reached down into a new spot within me to drive this car this weekend and we took another National win.
“I love Top Alcohol Funny Cars. As a little kid my dad took me around alcohol funny cars and I always wanted to swap feet and switch gears. Having a clutch pedal and a brake handle is what this class is to me. Take nothing away from Jim Whiteley and what he is doing with that converter car, it is extra tasty when we beat them.
“Thanks to Tony Bartone who gives us the gas to make this thing go and what about that Steve Boggs horsepower here all weekend in tough conditions! Also, congrats to my guys Troy, Garrett, Justin, Seth, Matt and Nick for putting in the hours and making this Pirate Ship sail!
“Also, thanks to Red Line Oil, Roger Dean Chevrolet, Talon Air, NGK Spark Plugs, Mastercam along with product sponsors Simpson Performance Products and Taylor Motorsports Products for all of their support this weekend.”
The team will stay on in Las Vegas to run next weekend’s Duel in the Desert here at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nov. 2-4.
The team would like to thank team sponsors Red Line Oil, Roger Dean Chevrolet, Talon Air, NGK Spark Plugs, and Mastercam, along with product sponsors Simpson Performance Products and Taylor Motorsports Products.
This story was originally published on October 31, 2023. 
