Three-time NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car world champion Sean Bellemeur streaks down the quarter-mile Norwalk strip in Tony Bartone’s Bartone Brothers/Red Line Oil “Pirate Ship” Camaro on his way to victory at the 47th Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire. For the first time in the event’s incredible history, it played host to an NHRA North Central Region race for Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car. Tuned by Steve Boggs, Bellemeur used a string of mid-to-low 5.50s to race past Wayne Morris, Phil Esz, and Chris Foster to claim the win. The California native swept all four Ohio events that hosted alcohol cars this season, adding the Night Under Fire win to victories at the Cavalcade of Stars regional race and Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Norwalk and the JEGS SPEEDWeek regional race at National Trail Raceway near Columbus.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #190, the State of Drag Issue, in September/ October of 2024.]
Photograph by David Hilner
Summit Motorsports Park
Norwalk, Ohio
Saturday, August 3rd, 2024
This story was originally published on October 23, 2024. 
