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Swinging for the Fence
Early Season Success Shows This Team's Strength |
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Written by Randy Fish |
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Page 1 of 2 Experience is the most important aspect of any racing team, though that common denominator generally comes with age. These days, age is not something car owners look for when shopping for a driver; they're aiming for youth, talent and marketable attributes. For the Meer Homes Top Alcohol Funny Car team experience comes from car owner, Ron Meer, and crew chief, Bob DeVour. They each possess a long history in drag racing, as well as the performance aftermarket arena. Years ago, Meer and DeVour both worked for Mr. Gasket, traveling the country working as racer reps, servicing Hays clutches and other Mr. Gasket family brands commonly used on the quarter-mile.
Having fielded a successful Top Alcohol Funny Car for the last few seasons, Meer and DeVour kept their eyes on the local talent pool to keep tabs on which drivers might fit their program. Their ultimate choice had experience in his father's TA/FC, along with a great deal of seat time in a Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster. Sean Bellemeur got the call and things were falling in place for the 2007 season, but first let's look at how he got there.
Although he's just 25 years old, Bellemeur began serving his apprenticeship as far back as 1991, helping service Tom Lemon's Top Alcohol Funny Car through 1998. From 1999 to 2003, he honed his driving skills running the Bellemeur A/Fuel Dragster (tuned by his dad) in Goodguys Vintage Racing Association competition. As such, Sean recorded the best reaction time average of his class in each of those years. In 2000, he became the youngest member of the 200 MPH Club, went to every final round a year later, and also became the Goodguys VRA champion. In 2002, he won the prestigious Goodguys March Meet and followed that up with yet another championship. In 2003, Sean battled to become the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion A/Fuel champion.
Goodguys action continued from 2003 to 2006, when he stepped into the seat of the Plaza Hotel/Casino, High Speed Motorsports Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster. Big wins came in his first two outings, followed by victories at the 2004 Goodguys Las Vegas Nitro Nationals, the NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, and the Goodguys Pomona Nitro Nationals, scoring an impressive trifecta in consecutive appearances. Bellemeur went on to win the NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion once again in 2005, as well as 2006, for an unprecedented three straight. There's no doubt he oiled his goggles during some of those front-engine Top Fuel passes, but we'll bet he chalked it all up to experience.
Sean's father (Gregg) and mother (Nancy) have had drag racing in their blood for decades, so it seemed natural their son would follow suit. His Junior Dragster exploits ran from 1995 to '98 and as a 15-year-old, Sean scored a runner-up at the National Championships in Denver. To say that Mom and Dad are proud would be a gross understatement.
Getting back to the beautiful Meer Homes Funny Car, when Sean became the "Chosen One," DeVour worked hard to ensure that he was comfortable inside the car, with regards to the fuel and magneto shut-offs, chute levers, shifter buttons, fire bottles, and hand brake. Bob's been around long enough to know that an existing chassis doesn't always feel right to every driver. Pedal placement (and angle), seating position and driver orientation all contribute greatly to the reaction time that's printed on the E.T. slip, so DeVour made sure this guy felt right at home.
 Focused and confident, Sean Bellemeur plans to work hard in the Top Alcohol ranks, with hopes of landing a Pro ride down the road. |  Why are these guys smiling? Well, that's usually the way things go when they're on the road. Left to right, Scott DeFrancisco, Ken Smith and Ron Meer enjoy a little jocularity between rounds in Las Vegas. | |
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