“People think we just showed up and dominated,” Bartone explained, when asked about the effort it took his team to reach this level of virtuosity. “In all honestly this is our fifth year of competition. We kept developing the program until we got it right.”

Young and his “Tri-State Racing” Chevy-powered fueler made Bartone earn the victory, after Young left first with a .058 reaction time to Tony’s relatively tardy .108 light. Young still had a wheel out on Tony at 1000’, but Bartone marched around his competitor for the win.

Even though he already has the championship, Bartone will still compete at Auto Club Famoso at the Oct. 17-19 California Hot Rod Reunion.

“We want to sweep the series,” he said. “That would be something in itself.”

NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Tony Bartone, 5.714, 238.01 def. Lincoln Hassell, 11.651, 79.13; Jim Young, 6.024, 234.90 def. Jerry Kumre Jr, 7.923, 125.58;

FINAL -- Bartone, 5.709, 271.19 def. Young, 5.897, 246.17.

7.0 PRO:
ROUND ONE -- Tony Lombardi, 7.106, 152.16 def. Sammy Daghir, 7.230, 180.31; Bob Schneider, 7.100, 191.57 def. Tim Steed, 15.048, 76.18;