Milestones in drag racing don’t come easy, and hitting 50 NHRA national event wins puts you in rare company. Sean Bellemeur did exactly that this weekend at zMAX Dragway, driving the Bartone Bros. Racing “Pirate Ship” to his 50th career NHRA national event victory and etching his name deeper into the sport’s history books.
With the win, Bellemeur becomes just the 25th driver in NHRA history to reach the 50-win mark, and only the third competitor in Top Alcohol Funny Car to achieve the feat. Piloting Tony Bartone’s iconic machine, the five-time and reigning Top Alcohol Funny Car world champion laid down a 5.38-second pass at 269 mph in the final round, sealing the milestone victory with authority.
The achievement had been looming since the start of the 2026 season, as Bellemeur entered the year with 48 career wins and a clear goal as part of the team’s “#DriveFor6in26” championship push.
“This team!” Bellemeur said. “That is what the hardest working team in drag racing, let alone Top Alcohol Funny Car, will get you. Here, at the shop and beyond, everyone involved has a piece of this milestone win. They deserve this more than I do. I am just along for the ride. I am a very lucky guy.
“The game plan coming into the weekend was the same: just focus on the next run. We had a little adversity in the first run; the car didn’t want to go down the racetrack. Steve (Boggs) looked at it, and in the semifinal, it ran pretty good, but I drove like an idiot – my words, not his. Man, we lit up that scoreboard in the final with a run of 5.38!”
Reaching 50 wins in NHRA competition is a benchmark reserved for legends. Bellemeur now joins an exclusive list of drivers across all categories, and within Top Alcohol Funny Car, he stands alongside only two names: Hall of Famer Frank Manzo and the late Pat Austin. He also becomes the first driver in the class to reach the milestone since Bob Newberry, further highlighting the significance of the achievement.
The milestone win is just the latest highlight in what has been a near-perfect start to the 2026 season for the Bartone Bros. Racing team. Known as the “Killer B’s,” the team has opened the year undefeated, capturing wins at the Gatornationals, a Baby Gators regional event, and now at zMAX Dragway.
“We have a great crew, a strong crew chief and a fast driver. I knew we would do it; I just didn’t know when,” said team owner Tony Bartone. “The team worked hard on the car all weekend, and it resulted in a fast run. Getting Sean his 50th win is just an added bonus in a very young season. I am proud of this team and the effort they bring every weekend.”
While Bellemeur gets the headlines, he’s quick to point out that the success is built on the strength of the entire operation.
“We have a great crew of guys and girls on this ‘Killer B’ team,” Bellemeur continued. “It starts with Tony Bartone. He is a competitor and a winner. His drive and support, and just knowing what it takes to win, powers this whole organization. Hall of Famer Steve Boggs, and team members Troy Green, Nick Stoms, Justin Taylor, Garret Bateman, Brian Gawlik, Lauren McMaster, and Matt Krebs all work so hard that driving this ‘Pirate Ship’ is just an honor.”
With 50 wins now in the books, Bellemeur’s focus doesn’t change. The “#DriveFor6in26” campaign is still front and center, with the goal of securing another world championship to add to his already impressive résumé. If the start of the season is any indication, Bellemeur and the Bartone Bros. Racing team aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
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