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Kyle Chura
Jun 29, 2025
"Pirate Ship" Makes Triumphant Return with Fifth Win of Season
Bartone Bros. Racing secured its fifth Top Alcohol Funny Car victory in seven events today at the 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park.
The team shelved its nitro-injected Top Alcohol Funny Car – winner of four events earlier this season – to revive the championship-winning "Pirate Ship" supercharged-alcohol combination. The Killer B's turned-on win lights throughout eliminations, claiming lane choice for the final against Shane Westerfield.
Driver Sean Bellemeur of Placentia, California, defeated Maddi Gordon (5.50 seconds), Bob McCosh (5.51) and Ryan Stack (5.54) in early elimination rounds. In the final against Shane Westerfield, Bellemeur delivered a winning pass of 5.54 and 261 MPH with a reaction time of .036.
The victory marks the team's fifth win in seven starts this season and Bellemeur's 61st final-round appearance, continuing their successful 2025 campaign.
"We needed this win here this weekend," Bellemeur said. "The team has been on point, and I needed to drive better – simple as that. The crew on this team are the best in the business, which is why Tony hired them. Norwalk is my favorite track. To win here at the national event, the Bader family's track, on a hot weekend was redemption for this team and our sports car crew who had a tough weekend over in Belgium.
"My heart and soul is in a Top Alcohol Funny Car. That run proved it – the car was shaking sideways, and I just kept driving. The 'Pirate Ship' has picked up where it left off last year. Steve Boggs and the team have a great handle on it. We're ready for the next race."
Bellemeur credited the team's preparation: "We've had back-to-back hot weekends here in Norwalk, but this team keeps working. Tony provides the motivation to win, and Boggs tunes perfectly to conditions. The crew – Troy Green, Nick Stoms, Justin Taylor, Garrett Bateman, Brian Gawlik, Lauren McMaster and Matt Krebs – gets us those win lights."
A huge thank you to our incredible team sponsors: Red Line Synthetic Oil, Roger Dean Chevrolet, Talon Air, LLC, NGK Spark Plugs, and Mastercam, along with our valued product supporters, Simpson Performance Products and Taylor Motorsports Products.