Image Of The Week—A Banner Day For 151 Express

Nick Imprescia and Ian Morgan were having the best race of their relatively short 450R Factory Stock-class career yesterday at the Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan, Wis. They were holding third and running beautifully—perfectly trimmed and looking strong to finish on the podium.

The driver of the 151 Express raceboat, Ian Morgan enjoyed a lighthearted moment after yesterday’s 450R Factory Stock race. Photos by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos

And then they clipped a turn buoy. Instant penalty, plus the cost of buoy.

But they took a souvenir with them. The offending buoy was dressed in a Monster Energy banner. Somehow that banner stuck to the boat’s starboard outboard engine and went for a ride around the course. Like a flag in a 100-mph breeze, the banner trailed the boat—while providing free advertising for the energy drink giant—until Imprescia slowed their MTI 390XR catamaran to idle speed and Morgan climbed out of the cockpit to retrieve it.

Back at the dock, Morgan wrapped himself in the team’s costly prize. And, as usual, speedonthewater.com photographer Jeff Helmkamp was there to capture the lighthearted moment.

If you tried to snatch a buoy with a raceboat 1,000 times, chances are you couldn’t do it.

Editor’s note: The second round of the Midwest Challenge action begins today at 11:30 a.m. with Class 1 race No. 2. Look for offshore editor Eric Colby’s report on yesterday’s action this morning on speedonthewater.com.

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