The conditions started to play a role on Day Two of the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series in Sarasota Florida when David Selley and Steven Bridges along with the rest of the Super Stock fleet took to the water.
Starting positions were determined by how the boats finished in the previous race. That put owner/driver Daren Kittredge and throttleman Casey Boaz in the 32-foot Doug Wright, Northwing Offshore, in lane one with owner/driver Chris Hopgood and throttleman Jay Muller in the 32-foot Doug Wright, CELSIUS, in lane two and Ricky and Ricardo Maldonado in the 32-foot Fazza, Steele Racing, in lane three. Throttleman Torrente and driver Sean Conner were in the fourth slot in their 32-foot S2 Powerboat/Allied Construction, while Selley and Bridges in their 32-foot Doug Wright, Team Bermuda boat started sixth.
When the green flag waved, Northwing got out to the early lead with Jackhammer giving chase. The two quickly separated themselves from the pack and when they passed the finish boat to end the first lap, Langheim and Maldonado made their move to take the lead.
Owner/driver Cole Leibel and throttleman Gary Ballough made a last minute propeller change and moved weight in their 32-foot Victory, Big East Construction. They were running third just ahead of Allied Construction with Steele having its best showing of the season in fifth.
Allied Construction, took a flier and came down hard on the starboard side, knocking the water diverter off the back of the boat. Then Northwing pulled off with mechanical problems at the north end of the course.
Local favorite Ryan Beckley was on the throttles of the 32-foot Doug Wright, Atlas/Professional Plumbing with driver Connor Toomey and then moved up to third place with the only boat in the fleet powered by two-stroke Mercury Racing outboards.
By the sixth lap out of nine, Jackhammer was comfortably in the lead with Big East holding second place and Professional Plumbing battling for third. Making a charge for the podium were owner/throttleman Bill Allen and driver Randy Keys in their new 32-foot Doug Wright, Team Allen Lawncare and Landscaping. Torrente and Conner slowed with problems and as the race went on, Steele got lighter and was getting flighty so the Maldonados had to slow down.
Selley and Bridges were also making a late charge, but when the spray settled and the checkered flag waved, Jackhammer claimed the hard-fought win, with Big East in second and Altas/Professional Plumbing third. Team Allen wound up fourth.
|
