Post by daj on Apr 18, 2005 22:06:01 GMT -5
Bartone reaches the final round in Las Vegas in the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car
Courtesy of Bill Walters
CMKXtreme Racing
LAS VEGAS, Sunday: Tony Bartone advanced to the final round in Funny Car at the 6th annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at ‘the Strip’ at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The weather was beautiful the entire weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with plenty of sunshine greeting the racers and fans. Sunday’s racing conditions were the hottest of the weekend, providing all of the crew chiefs with a tremendous challenge during eliminations. Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Crew chief Jim Dunn’s years of success and experience would definitely be an advantage for Bartone before the day was over.
Bartone qualified the Jim Dunn Racing/Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car for Sunday’s eliminations in the No. 11 position on the strength of three consistent 4-second runs, the best a 4.949. The New York native faced No. 6 qualifier Tommy Johnson Jr. in round one Sunday morning.
Bartone, who was in the right lane in the opening round, dropped a cylinder right off the starting line against Johnson, but his 5.071 at 290.44 mph was enough to take his first round win. Bartone and the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car would line up against Tim Wilkerson in the quarterfinals.
The Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car endured a dramatic quarterfinal race against Wilkerson. After problems with the throttle, Bartone performed a short, quick burnout and quickly pulled to the starting line. Wilkerson’s parachute fell out just off the starting line and the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car advanced to the semifinals with an engine damaging 5.364 at 222.80 mph.
Bartone entered his second career semifinal in nitro Funny Car against Ron Capps. The 49-year-old Florida resident left the starting line first with a great .062 reaction time, and drove away from Capps to take the victory with his quickest run of the weekend, a stunning 4.928 at 307.09 mph, in the heat of the day. Bartone was headed to his first career fuel Funny Car final as the driver of the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car would have lane choice over Whit Bazemore in the money round.
Crew chief Jim Dunn offered his explanation for the major step up in performance in the semifinals and why the team changed lanes for the final round. “We found a problem with the ignition and corrected it,” offered the drag racing icon. “We choose the left lane for the final because there is not as many bumps in it. Bazemore wanted the left lane and we could get down either side, so we took the left lane and let them have the one they didn’t want.”<br>
Both cars ran side by side to the finish line, with Bazemore inching by for the win with a 4.976 at 315.12 mph to Bartone’s very close 4.983 at 303.23 mph.
“I want to thank Urban and Carolyn Casavant at CMKX, Lucas Oil, Superwinch, Craftsman, Gates Belts and Hose,Goodyear, Pledge, Chill Factor Performance, F1 Air, Suzuki Quad Runner and all the Jim Dunn Racing fans everywhere,” said Bartone following the final round. “It was a great weekend for the entire team, Jim and Diane Dunn, Jon Dunn and the entire crew. We needed this, it was a great boost and I’m glad to be a part of it.”<br>
With the final round appearance Bartone moved up several positions in the 2005 POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings.
Courtesy of Bill Walters
CMKXtreme Racing
LAS VEGAS, Sunday: Tony Bartone advanced to the final round in Funny Car at the 6th annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at ‘the Strip’ at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The weather was beautiful the entire weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with plenty of sunshine greeting the racers and fans. Sunday’s racing conditions were the hottest of the weekend, providing all of the crew chiefs with a tremendous challenge during eliminations. Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Crew chief Jim Dunn’s years of success and experience would definitely be an advantage for Bartone before the day was over.
Bartone qualified the Jim Dunn Racing/Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car for Sunday’s eliminations in the No. 11 position on the strength of three consistent 4-second runs, the best a 4.949. The New York native faced No. 6 qualifier Tommy Johnson Jr. in round one Sunday morning.
Bartone, who was in the right lane in the opening round, dropped a cylinder right off the starting line against Johnson, but his 5.071 at 290.44 mph was enough to take his first round win. Bartone and the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car would line up against Tim Wilkerson in the quarterfinals.
The Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car endured a dramatic quarterfinal race against Wilkerson. After problems with the throttle, Bartone performed a short, quick burnout and quickly pulled to the starting line. Wilkerson’s parachute fell out just off the starting line and the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car advanced to the semifinals with an engine damaging 5.364 at 222.80 mph.
Bartone entered his second career semifinal in nitro Funny Car against Ron Capps. The 49-year-old Florida resident left the starting line first with a great .062 reaction time, and drove away from Capps to take the victory with his quickest run of the weekend, a stunning 4.928 at 307.09 mph, in the heat of the day. Bartone was headed to his first career fuel Funny Car final as the driver of the Got CMKX?/Lucas Oil Funny Car would have lane choice over Whit Bazemore in the money round.
Crew chief Jim Dunn offered his explanation for the major step up in performance in the semifinals and why the team changed lanes for the final round. “We found a problem with the ignition and corrected it,” offered the drag racing icon. “We choose the left lane for the final because there is not as many bumps in it. Bazemore wanted the left lane and we could get down either side, so we took the left lane and let them have the one they didn’t want.”<br>
Both cars ran side by side to the finish line, with Bazemore inching by for the win with a 4.976 at 315.12 mph to Bartone’s very close 4.983 at 303.23 mph.
“I want to thank Urban and Carolyn Casavant at CMKX, Lucas Oil, Superwinch, Craftsman, Gates Belts and Hose,Goodyear, Pledge, Chill Factor Performance, F1 Air, Suzuki Quad Runner and all the Jim Dunn Racing fans everywhere,” said Bartone following the final round. “It was a great weekend for the entire team, Jim and Diane Dunn, Jon Dunn and the entire crew. We needed this, it was a great boost and I’m glad to be a part of it.”<br>
With the final round appearance Bartone moved up several positions in the 2005 POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings.