Super Stock Class Takes Care Of Its Own in Sarasota Salvage Aftermath

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Racing: Super Stock Class Takes Care Of Its Own in Sarasota Salvage Aftermath

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The Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix in Southwest Florida earlier this month was rough for the Super Stock class, which saw three out of 10 teams require salvage services after first-lap solo-boat incidents that forced the race—the fourth and final contest that day—to be scrubbed. But the outboard engine-powered, canopied catamaran class is close-knit and came up with a collective way to help each of those three teams, Big East Construction, CMR and Steele Industries pay its approximately $3,000 salvage bill.

Though it started with a strong 10-boat fleet, the Super Stock-class race during the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix was called off before the first lap was complete. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“The Super Stock class voted a week ago to split the prize money from Sarasota equally among the three teams that had to pay to have their boats salvaged,” explained Ryan Beckley, the class representative. “Tow boats are allowed to charge race teams if they need anything more than a regular tow in.”

The Super Stock-class prize money for the Powerboat P1/P1 Offshore-produced event, the third of eight races in the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series, totals approximately $10,000.

While Beckley said he is “not a fan” of “salvage companies on the racecourse,” he’s pleased that the Super Stock-class team owners were able to come together to support their fellow competitors. With an incident at the Offshore Powerboat Association-produced Lake Race in early June at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri followed by the Sarasota mishaps, some Super Stock competitors have found themselves at odds this season.

Beckley sees the decision as one of renewed cohesion and unity.

“At least the class agreed on one thing and we were able to vote to put this together,” he said. “I’m really happy about that.”

When a raceboat comes apart the way CMR Roofing and Construction did in Sarasota, Fla., earlier this month, getting it back to shore becomes complicated—and expensive.