The high-octane world of SuperStock racing returned to the Florida coast as qualifying concluded for the Monster Energy St. Pete Powerboat Grand Prix presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.
In a field defined by blistering speeds and tactical precision, the American duo of Chad Rudesill and Rusty Williams set the standard in Say Less. The pair delivered a masterclass in offshore navigation to clock a time of 26:24.56, securing the top spot on the grid. They were followed closely by Dale McEachern and Austin Blocker in Drinkelo.com, who finished just ten seconds off the pace, while Daren Kittredge and Grant Bruggemann rounded out the top three in Northwing.
The afternoon proved to be a significant showcase for Bermudian talent, with two island crews testing their mettle against the international elite. Leading the charge for the Gombey contingent were David Selley and Steven Bridges in Team Bermuda S-25. The pair produced a remarkably consistent run to stop the clock at 26:51.24, earning a highly respectable fourth-place start for the main event.
Further down the field, Luis Martin and Andy Stoneham made their presence felt in Nuff Said Bermuda S-12. Despite the challenging surface conditions in the Gulf, the veteran duo safely navigated the course in 28:10.24 to secure the 13th spot on the leaderboard.
With qualifying now in the books, the focus shifts to race day, where the Bermudian boats will look to leverage their starting positions to climb the rankings in what promises to be a grueling test of endurance and mechanical reliability.
