Bartone Bros. Racing is proud to announce that legendary tuner Steve Boggs has been inducted into the prestigious International Hot Rod Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place Thursday evening at the University Hilton in Gainesville during the 2026 Gatornationals weekend.
Boggs, the mastermind behind the “Pirate Ship” Top Alcohol Funny Car owned by Tony Bartone and driven by Sean Bellemeur, joins an elite class of drag racing luminaries honored for their lasting contributions to the sport. His induction celebrates a career spanning more than six decades of innovation, championships, and record-setting performances.
The partnership between Boggs and team owner Tony Bartone began in 1992 at Sanair Raceway in Quebec, when Bartone made what would prove to be a career-defining hire. The duo has worked together since, winning championships and setting records across multiple decades.
Together with Bartone and driver Sean Bellemeur, Boggs forms one-third of the “Killer B’s”—a trio that has dominated the Top Alcohol Funny Car class with five NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championships, more than 65 event wins. Under Boggs’s tuning leadership, the team has amassed an extraordinary winning record, with Bellemeur currently sitting at 48 NHRA Nationals wins entering the 2026 season.
“Steve Boggs being inducted into the Hall is one of the coolest things I will ever witness in this sport,” said driver Sean Bellemeur. “There is no one more deserving. His credentials speak for themselves. Steve prides himself on doing well with things that have either failed for others or trying something completely different. That’s a surefire way to become a legend in this sport. He truly is the GOAT of tuners.”
Team owner Tony Bartone reflected on the decades-long partnership that has defined both their careers. Bartone first met Boggs in 1992 and hired him on the spot—a decision that would shape the trajectory of Bartone Bros. Racing for the next 34 years.
“After an hour-long conversation with my brother Michael back in 1992 in our trailer here in Quebec, our winning collaboration launched,” Bartone said. “With his tuning expertise combined with my driving, we have set records and won a lot of Wallys, winning the championship in 1996 taking 38 win lights in a row. When most guys have started feeling their age and technology scares them, Steve has embraced it and has only made my hot rods faster. I can’t be more proud of Steve getting into the Hall, and we are not stopping here.”
For Boggs, what started with a wooden cart built by him and his brother Ronnie as kids in Ohio has resulted in a career that has amassed more than 120 national wins and over eight national championships.
“I started racing with my brother Ronnie, and then he quit in 1992, and I was looking for a job,” Boggs said. “I was helping two other guys with Funny Cars, but I wasn’t too happy. Tony Bartone was there at Sanair Raceway in Quebec. I heard Tony was looking for someone. I talked with him and his brother, and we struck a deal. That is when my career really moved forward.
“Tony had all of the tools—the car, the parts, the crew, and the money. We had a motto: ‘You tune it and I’ll drive it.’ We started off winning a few regionals. Then in 2000, we set the ET record in Reading. We had a big year in 2003 with an A-Fuel dragster, setting the national ET record at Pomona and the speed record at Gainesville. We went on to set the national record at Las Vegas and Pomona with that car.
“The next chapter was in 2013, when Tony’s brother built a Nostalgia Top Fuel car. After the first year of learning the package, we built a new car. That was the answer. We got that new car and won three championships in a row, ran low 5.50s, and went 274.79 mph—I remember the numbers.
“In 2016, my brother and I received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bob Frey (who was also inducted yesterday). That was really nice, as my brother passed away in 2010.”
The last ten years, after Bartone stepped out of the car, began the “Killer B’s” era of Bartone, Boggs, and Bellemeur.
“In 2015, we hired Sean Bellemeur for a one-off to drive in Dallas. Prior to that, he had run seven national events and was a runner-up. He got in our car and won the event at Dallas. During 2017, Sean drove for us part-time as he had a commitment to his dad, Gregg. Let me tell you, he is one hell of a driver. We ended up fifth in the points. In 2018, he drove for us full time. There is not a doubt in my mind that I am up here right now because of Tony Bartone, Sean Bellemeur, and our crew. Tony is one of the best owners, Sean is one of the best drivers, we have the best crew, and I do OK. It’s a team effort to win.
“Finally, I want to thank Don Garlits and the committee for voting for me. I want to thank my family for putting up with the travel and racing talk over six decades of racing. I have my family and friends here, some who have known me since I was a kid. It’s the families who pay the price when we are gone 20-25 weekends a year, and it is appreciated.”
The International Hot Rod Hall of Fame induction comes during a milestone weekend for Bartone Bros. Racing, as the team kicks off their #DriveFor6in26 campaign at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Earlier Thursday, Bellemeur piloted the “Pirate Ship” to a 5.49-second pass at 265 mph—the quickest run among TAFC competitors in the first session of the season.
Boggs’s induction adds to an already decorated legacy for Bartone Bros. Racing, which has established itself as one of the most successful operations in Top Alcohol Funny Car history. The team’s five championships and consistent dominance reflect the technical expertise and racing acumen that Boggs brings to the track every weekend.
A huge thank you to our incredible team sponsors: Red Line Synthetic Oil, Roger Dean Chevrolet, Talon Air, LLC, and NGK Spark Plugs, along with our valued product supporters, Simpson Performance Products and Taylor Motorsports Products.For more information on Bartone Bros. Racing, including race recaps and photos, please visit the team site at www.BartoneBrosRacing.com.
