Commentary: A New Era For Doug Wright

Yesterday, I published a story titled “Lockyer Tests New Doug Wright Factory Stock Raceboat.” The factually correct piece noted that the build of Rob Lockyer’s Factory Stock-class 38-foot Doug Wright raceboat took three-and-a-half years. It quoted Lockyer on his frustration with time the project took to complete, as well as how his passion for it has been reignited now that the canopied catamaran is nearly finished. Lockyer is eager to move forward and prepare the catamaran for its debut at the Midwest Challenge next month in Sheboygan, Wis.

Flanked by Lake of the Ozarks Shootout broadcasters Bob Teague and Tristan Garvin, Justin Wagner of Waves And Wheels brings remarkable track record to his new venture at the owner of Doug Wright Racing. Photo by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos.

Justin Wagner of Waves And Wheels, a former Doug Wright dealer who has spent the past several years completing bare hulls from the Melbourne, Fla., catamaran builder purchased Doug Wright Powerboats—now Doug Wright Racing—in mid-June. And when I say “completing”  I mean handling painting, rigging, engine installation and designing, building and installing interiors at the highest  level. The work that Wagner and his crew have done with the Doug Wright brand is impeccable.

Also for the record? Wagner and his team have built an outstanding reputation for getting their new Doug Wright build-outs done on time or even early at their Lake of the Ozarks facility in Central Missouri.

A longtime friend and speedonthewater.com supporter, Wagner reached out after the story ran. He was rightly concerned  that the perception of whatever business practices may have existed with the brand under prior ownership—a point I made in the story—might carry into assumptions about how the business will run moving forward.

Old baggage can be tough to shake, and Wagner wanted people to know that under his leadership/ownership unacceptable delays such as the one that affected Lockyer will not be business as usual. His concern was more than understandable. It was appropriate.

Wagner asked me if I would add something to that effect in the story. I declined.

To my way of thinking as a reporter/writer/editor, future assurances wouldn’t have fit the story. They would have—again in my professional opinion—come out of nowhere.

Because Waves And Wheels had nothing to with Lockyer’s build.

“I think it would be very helpful to me and the entire team to explain the focus and delivery of the new chapter of Doug Wright Powerboats,” Wagner wrote in a text message.

Those plans were comprehensively laid out in Jason Johnson’s fine feature on the acquisition, as well as an excellent Scrapyard Media video on the subject. The links to both are live in this paragraph, so if you missed either one of them you want might click on one or the other, or both, and take a look. Wagner’s vision is impressive, and his track-record heading into the next chapter with Doug Wright Racing is exceptional.

One more thing I need to add? In my experience with Wagner, he hasn’t always just done what he says he’s going to do. He’s always done more. That’s just who he is in his professional and personal life.

Doubting him is a profoundly bad bet. So I never have.

Especially now.

Related stories
Lockyer Tests New Doug Wright Factory Stock Raceboat
Live Now! Waves And Wheels And Doug Wright ‘Next Chapter’ Video
Waves And Wheels Founder Takes Ownership Of Doug Wright Powerboats
Quick Take—Digging The Waves And Wheels Edition Doug Wright 39 Carbon Cat

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