Clearwater Nationals Crucial For Class 1, Expecting Solid Turnout And More
Just one week away, the Race World Offshore Clearwater ‘Nationals’ have been the sixth event of the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series since the season kicked in May with the 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix. But in August the Class 1 team owners voted to add the Clearwater event to their series. It is the penultimate event for both APBA series and Class 1 competitors, and will be followed by the P1 Offshore St. Petersburg Grand Prix in early October.
Five Class 1 teams are expected to compete next weekend in Clearwater, Fla. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
The addition of the Southwest Florida contest is a plot-thickener for Class 1, thanks to the DeFalco team of owner/driver Mike Falco and Billy Moore taking the last three checkered flags. Where once the Monster Energy/M CON team of owner/throttleman Tyler Miller and driver Myrick Coil looked unstoppable, now the Monster duo leads the series by just 13 points, according to the standings on the P1 Offshore website.
“It’s super close,” said Miller. “The last two races of the season are critical for us.
“I am expecting fierce competition and a battle down to the last lap on the last day for the Class 1 World Championship,” he added.
Miller and Coil have more cushion in the Super Cat-class ranks, where they also compete in the APBA series. They currently lead the Dirty Money team of throttleman Bill Pyburn and driver Brit Lilly by 73 points in their M CON/Monster Energy raceboat.
The Dirty Money team is hoping for its second checkered flag in as many races in Clearwater.
The Dirty Money and M CON/Monster Energy teams are the only Super Cat outifits currently registered for the Clearwater event. But the Austin Homes/SV Offshore, Graydel, Team Farnsworth/Hancock Claims Consultants and WHM Motorsports teams reportedly plan to compete on the 2-1/2-mile oval course in Clearwater.
“We have 30 boats registered so far,” said Rodrick Cox of Race World Offshore. “We are expecting another 20 to sign up this week.”
Super Stock-class team-owners group representative Ryan Beckley said 10 teams in the category are committed to Clearwater event. So far, eight have registered. As decided by the team owners at the beginning of the season, Clearwater is the final event of the Super Stock National Championship Series.
In the 450R Factory Stock class, just two teams—Montlick Injury Attorneys and GC Racing—have registered. The Montlick duo of driver Logan Adan and throttleman Giovanni Carpitella have a commanding, 148-point lead over current runner-up Hanks Saloon Racing. GC Racing currently sits third in the points standings.
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