Thankful Turk Purchases Class 5 Team Woody Phantom
Since joining the team in the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, J.J. Turk and Micheal Stancombe have been a major part of the outstanding Team Woody Offshore Racing presence at events—both on and off the racecourse—competing in the team’s Class 5 Phantom.
Teammates J.J. Turk and Micheal Stancombe are excited to continue racing the No. 527 Phantom in Class 5 this season. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix
During the last few years, Stancombe and Turk have seen a lot of success in the 30-foot boat, especially in 2022 when they won every race they entered except for the season-opener in Cocoa Beach, Fla., in May, which is why Turk ended up buying the Phantom from team owners Chad Woody and Billy Shipley recently.
And it’s because of the generosity demonstrated by Woody, Shipley and the rest of the Team Woody crew that Turk, who owns JT’s Social Bar that is part of his family owned La Quinta Inn of Cocoa Beach, wanted to thank everyone who supported him over the past few years.
“To say that the Turk family, Micheal Stancombe, Billy Stroud and Eric Lutz are all thankful for the opportunity Team Woody has given us would be a massive understatement,” Turk told Speedonthewater.com. “The last couple of seasons have been an amazing experience, and one that we will always cherish. The unforgettable people we have met, the families and friendships we have gained, and the success we have had on and off the racecourse, have been truly remarkable.
“None of this would have transpired without the dynamic duo of Texas natives Billy Shipley and Chad Woody,” he added. “They had the vision and trust to bring us on board to campaign their Team Woody #527 Phantom raceboat. To be honest, Team Woody is one big racing family with a collection of national and world championships to its credit. By fielding as many as four race boats during the 2021 and 2022 racing seasons, the team has proven its dedication to the sport. More importantly, all of the Team Woody teammates/family members have always been willing to help fellow competitors, welcome and appreciate the race fans, and give the bracketed classes a real show of class and sportsmanship.”
Check out the slideshow above for more images of the Team Woody crew during the past couple of seasons. Photos courtesy J.J. Turk
Turk, who plans to continue running the boat with Stancombe and support the efforts of his son, Cameron, in the Class 7 ranks, said he enjoyed being a part of Team Woody and learned a lot along the way.
“I’m not leaving on bad terms—in fact, it’s just the opposite,” Turk said. “Chad and Billy wanted to slim down the fleet, and their workload, so I offered to buy the boat from them and continue racing it. And they were all for that. It really was an honor and a pleasure to be part of their team. They gave us the equipment and support it takes to compete in what I would say is currently the premier bracketed class in offshore racing. Our raceboat average in Class 5 during the last two years has been stout, and for us to have had such a competitive boat and such a solid team behind us made racing in this class, and for Team Woody, an awesome and unforgettable experience.
“It was truly a great family, a great team and a great opportunity,” he added. “Tom, Vicky, Chad, Katlyn, Ashton, Kate, Billy, Madison, Kyler, Justin, the Turk family, Stancombe, Billy, Eric, our main sponsor Golf-n-Gator (Dave and Ally), Bruce and D-Wayne from Express Racing Engines, Warren our outdrive master, Brett at BBLADES, La Quinta Inn Cocoa Beach/Port Canaveral, and JT’s Social Bar. I want to thank each and every one of you for what you have done for me. I will always be grateful.”
Turk, who has some work to do on the boat to get it ready for the season, said he can’t wait to get back on the racecourse. Neither can Stancombe, Turk’s longtime friend and teammate.
“We raced three years with the Team Woody crew and won just about everything we could win with the team,” said Stancombe, who was surprised to receive the American Power Boat Association’s Offshore Sportsmanship Award at the annual APBA National Meeting in Seattle last week. “We definitely have to thank Chad and Billy for allowing us to abuse their equipment—multiple times in multiple boats (laughs).”
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