Anthony Bartone Jr.
Anthony Bartone Jr. comes from a lineage of drag racers. Father Tony and Uncle Michael cut their teeth on the east coast quarter mile drag strips. Tony, as a NHRA driver and team owner has over 80 NHRA National Event wins and today fields a Top Alcohol Funny Car team in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
The 2026 season is off to a strong start, with Bartone and teammates Shigekazu Wakisaka and Fabian Schiller taking a victory in the opening round of the Asian Le Mans Series at Sepang International Circuit. The team will now look to build on that momentum and improve upon their fifth-place finish at the 2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona with another run this year.
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The 2025 season was highlighted by a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Bartone and co-driver Steve Jans secured first place in the Le Mans Cup race. Other notable results included podium finishes in International GT Open competition at Portimão, Spa-Francorchamps, Circuit Paul Ricard, the Red Bull Ring, and Barcelona.
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In 2024, the young Bartone competed in Europe across three major series: the SRO GT World Challenge Europe, GT International Open, the Asian Le Mans Series, and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The highlight of his year was a victory in the Silver class at the SRO GT World Challenge Spa 24 Hours—the world's largest GT3 race. Teammates James Kell, Yannick Mettler, and Aaron Walker shared the winning effort. Bartone also secured a win at Portimão in the International GT Open and added a podium finish in Barcelona.
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Choosing a different path than his family's drag racing legacy, Bartone is steadily building his reputation as a sports car talent. His introduction to high-speed track driving came at the NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, through his father's longtime friend, Andy Pilgrim, who was then a track experience consultant.
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Pilgrim—a five-time sports car champion with experience at Le Mans, Sebring, and Daytona—immediately recognized Bartone's ability. Having only received his competition license in 2022, Bartone continues to take a measured approach as he climbs the sports car ladder, with the ultimate goal of competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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Bartone’s early experience included racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport entries alongside Pilgrim in SRO GT4 America, GT Celebration, and International GT events throughout 2022, where they claimed wins and podium finishes. That same year, Bartone made his European debut in the VW Fun Cup race at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
Bartone Bros 2026 Team and Product Sponsors
