Pics And Picks: Post-Practice Racer Grabs From Sarasota

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Racing: Pics And Picks: Post-Practice Racer Grabs From Sarasota

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Though the three Bracket class races and Class 1 pole-position qualifying took center stage yesterday, practice and testing rolled on as usual yesterday at the 37th annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix in Southwest Florida. Today’s action on the 6.7-mile course, which viewers can catch live on the P1 Offshore website and P1 Offshore Facebook page is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the Stock V, Mod V and Bracket 400 and 300 classes.

With 10 boats in the field, today’s Super Stock-class race in Sarasota, Fla., will be a wild one. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

After yesterday’s test-day mist settled, I caught up with racers in the Super Cat, Super Stock and Class 1 ranks. And just for fun, I asked a simple question:

Which team in your class is the one to beat?

Here’s what they had to say.

Ryan Beckley, Ignite/CELSIUS, Super Stock

“Anyone could win, especially the guy who nails the setup with props, weight and balance—and has a little luck. It’s very hot and humid and the big course has a few different conditions, so it’s really a crap-shoot on the setup. With 10 similar boats , it’s really tough to say who’s going to win.

The Super Stock race is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m.

Steve Curtis, Huski Chocolate, Class 1

“We were a couple of seconds faster than 222 Offshore Australia in qualifying yesterday, but it was very close So we will just have to see

The Class 1 race is scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m.

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Enjoy images from yesterday’s Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix practice session.

Myrick Coil, M CON (Super Cat) And Performance Boat Center (Super Stock)

“Both of the boats I’m in, of course. But seriously, we have seven boats in Super Cat. Maybe Pro Floors, Graydel and M CON will be the top three. In Super Stock Jackhammer, LPC and CMR will be good. And I think we’ll be good.

The Super Cat race is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m.

Tyler Miller, M CON, Super Cat

“There’s honestly several boats looking really good—SV Offshore Racing, Pro Floors and Graydel all look really good, but LiquorSplit is the wild card so really tough to tell. But I’d say Pro Floors or Graydel will be super tough.”