Bartone Bros. Racing clinches the 2026 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Funny Car world title at Texas Motorplex. Sean Bellemeur beats Phil Esz to seal a sixth championship.

The decisive run comes at a delayed national event, staged during the Texas FallNationals weekend. Execution under pressure underscores the team’s now familiar control of key moments.

Across the season, the “Killer B’s” build an insurmountable lead, underpinned by eight Diamond Wallys. It cements their standing in Top Alcohol Funny Car racing.

The wins span Gainesville’s Gatornationals, the Baby Gators regional, zMAX 4-Wide, Route 66, Maryland International Raceway, Summit Motorsports Park, the U.S. Nationals, and U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

Bellemeur frames this crown as among their best. Owner Tony Bartone sets the tone, aligning resources and personnel while sustaining standards that repeatedly deliver under varied conditions.

Steve Boggs, a Hall of Famer, extracts peak performance. He manages a two-car program without compromising execution, supported by Nick Stoms, Justin Taylor, Garrett Bateman, Brian Gawlik, Lauren McMaster, and Matt Krebs.

Commercial partners underpin the effort. Bellemeur credits Park Miller, Red Line Synthetic Oil, Roger Dean Chevrolet, Talon Air, NGK Spark Plugs, GetSpeed, McLeod Racing, and Taylor Motorsport Products.

Red Line personnel witness the title run on site. The tally reaches nine Diamond Wallys this year, including the championship, with momentum still evident heading into the autumn phase.

The program continues in JEGS Allstars and targets the upcoming NHRA FallNationals events. Schedule density tests depth, but recent form suggests capacity to extend the run.

Tony Bartone’s experience remains a backbone, after nearly 100 NHRA National Event wins as a driver. That background informs strategic calls and risk management across weekends.

Since 2018, the group has six NHRA TAFC world titles, five Mid-West Drag Racing Series TAFC crowns, and 54 NHRA National Event wins. Consistency defines the dataset.

The team also extends into endurance racing with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. Anthony Bartone drives in Asian Le Mans Series, International GT Open, and SRO GT World Challenge Europe.

Diversification sharpens operational processes. Cross-discipline feedback loops aid preparation, reliability, and decision-making—qualities that repeatedly surface in their TAFC execution.

In sum, the title is secured through relentless accrual of points, race-day precision, and a stable technical core. The field responds, but Bartone Bros. set the benchmark again.

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Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.