NHRA’s new injected nitro “class enhancement” for TAFC makes early waves….

Bartone Bros. Racing Makes NHRA History Winning “Baby Gators” — Killer B’s set new National TAFC Record with the “Black Pearl”

Bartone Bros. Racing won Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Division 2 Lucas Oil Regional “Baby Gators” at Gainesville Raceway.

Driver Sean Bellemeur lined up Tony Bartone’s all-new Nitro Injected Top Alcohol Funny Car, known as the “Black Pearl,” against Annie Whiteley in the final and made a pass of 5.37 seconds at 280 MPH to take the Wally. The win marks the first victory in Top Alcohol Funny Car by a Nitro Injected engine in NHRA history.

The magic happened when the Placentia, California-based driver recorded a quarter-mile time of 5.33 seconds at 281.42 MPH, eclipsing the National Record in Top Alcohol Funny Car. The run surpassed the team’s, and Bellemeur’s, previous record of 5.352 seconds. Additionally, it was the first time in NHRA history that a Top Alcohol Funny Car exceeded 280 MPH and the first time a Nitro Injected Top Alcohol Funny Car has won an event.

“We went into the weekend knowing that there were going to be a lot of eyes on us,” Bellemeur said. “The end goal is to turn on win lights. Steve (Boggs, tuner) and the team did what we had to do to get those win lights this weekend. It was neat to lay down a good pass last night and keep the record we had but improve on it a little.

“The Nitro Injected car is such a different animal. In the middle of the track, it just flies. It really gets out there. The best way I can describe it is it gets weird, and I just hang on and stay with it. I am learning the weird.”

The team rolled out the all-new “Black Pearl” in testing two weeks ago at Gainesville and posted an unofficial time of 5.28 seconds at 283 MPH. The team backed up that time this evening under official sanction to set the new class record. The Steve Boggs-tuned car makes history by being the first Top Alcohol Funny Car to go over the 280 MPH mark.

“The car is so different than the alcohol car,” Bellemeur continued. “It leaves soft and then gets about 150 feet out, wakes up, and lets you know who’s in charge. You must be ready because there are a lot of different things going on. From a driving standpoint, it is hard to cut a light. I am learning. Steve told me, ‘You’re cutting good lights; just let the car respond to the tune-up.’ We’ve got a lot of guys on this team who have experience with nitro over the years. As new as this whole program is, it is a big benefit to have a lot of seasoned veterans around to smooth the transition.

“There are so many unknowns with this Nitro Injected car that to turn on win lights early is just good momentum moving forward. We are starting to establish a baseline with the ‘Black Pearl.’ We will keep our heads down and stay focused. We will see how the cards fall, stay focused, and turn on win lights.

“Thanks to Tony Bartone for believing in Steve and the team and building this new car. Thanks to the crew: Troy Green, Nick Stoms, Justin Taylor, Garret Bateman, Brian Gawlik, Lauren McMaster, and Matt Krebs.”

The team would like to thank team sponsors Red Line Synthetic Oil, Roger Dean Chevrolet, Talon Air, LLC, NGK Spark Plugs, and Mastercam, along with product sponsors 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

About Bartone Bros. Racing — Tony Bartone, team owner, is a former NHRA World Champion driver and team owner with over 87 NHRA National Event wins in his driving and owning career. The “Killer B’s” (Bartone, Bellemeur, and Boggs) have won more races and championships since teaming up on a full-time basis in 2018, more than any other team in Top Alcohol Drag Racing. Team records include four NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car World Championships; three Mid-West Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Funny Car Championships; 48 NHRA National Event Wins; Top Alcohol Funny Car World Record Holder at 5.33 and 281 MPH in the quarter mile. 

Bartone Bros. Racing also campaigns a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car in the Asian Le Mans Sereis, International GT Open Championship and the SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Championship Powered by AWS for driver Anthony Bartone.

Posted by Kyle Chura