Rodeo in Richland!

Busted engines and DNFs dominate the day on a very tough course

By Jim DeFord

RICHLAND, Wash. (Aug. 12, 2006) — A total of 23 DNFs in qualifying and eliminations showed how tough this race’s course was. It was not a long course but the drivers had to make two 90-degree turns right at the start-line; one heading one direction and the other heading the opposite way. Both ways proved quite a challenge throughout the day. See the Cowboy Photos.

This week let’s start with the highly contested Group A-400 Class. Doug Hendrickson and Hannah Rice clearly have the fastest boat in this class. He can run easily 3-plus seconds faster than his nearest competitor week-in and week out.

However, attrition and missed turns have proved to be Doug’s enemy and he now sits in fourth-place, 60 points off Kyle Patrick who know holds the first place position alone. Doug was ripping of runs in the 40-second range (49.606 was his fastest lap of the day), but he missed a turn halfway through the second elimination run and was on the trailer for the day.

With En Fuego done for the day the race was now between Patrick and Pfeiler.

In qualifications, Kyle Patrick and navigator Bill Root were fastest, but in the elimination round the Pfeiler/Wright team was ahead by about a second. On the last run, It’s All About Me’s engine started popping and cracking and by the end of the run there was clearly a problem as Kyle crawled across the finish line nearly ¾ a second off round two.

All the Climax boat had to do was run a decent lap and they were home free with a clear lead in the battle for the A-400 championship. As Dave and Marvin were nearing the end of their run it looked to be an easy win for them. However, in the last sweeper to the finish line, something went terribly wrong.

Climax’s engine started to putter and whimper. The oil pressure dropped to zero so Dave shut it down and they gently rested the boat on the beach. There was evidently some bottom-end bearings lost so Climax will have some new parts at the next event on August 26th.

Kyle Patrick claimed his second win of the season and the points lead as we head to Woodland. The Jack’s Bright finished third, followed by a very frustrated Hendrickson in fourth.

It was good to see Frank Toftemark and Kasy Starkle back on the track in Alan Rush’s boat (that is for sale). Frank placed this boat fifth in the finals. Good to see your faces again!

Off to the Stock Class with Rice/Rice holding a slim lead over Sandoval/Weeks. Steve and Brenda have been dealing with some direction gremlins with a DNF in the final rounds at Marsing in race #4 and a two DNF’s this week in the qualification rounds. However, it was simply the skill of Sandoval and Weeks having the faster boat this day as they took both the win and the points lead in the stock class as we head to Woodland. Rookies Mulvaine/Schaffer would finish third.

The Super-Modified class is dominated by the Petersen brothers. They have won 8 of the last 10 races in this class dating back to the first race of 2005, and this week in Richland would be no different.

Rookie team, Two Pump Chump, with Scott Ackerman driving and Lori Ackerman pointing the way, are driving one of the boats that beat Bernin’ H2O back in the first race of 2005. They have been pretty fast right off the trailer, and this weekend in Richland they were just about a second off the pace set by Loren and Trevor. John Gray and Bill Root (pulling double-duty navigator) finished fourth followed very closely by Yates/Vestal, Yeager/Yeager, Elliot/Thompson and Smith/Zimmerman.

Ron Fisher was back for the first time this season and made the finals, but DNF’d. Good to have you back Ron. Olson/Hampton, Castillo/Schwebach and Weaver/Springer did not make the finals.

A caveat that could play into the race at Woodland is that Bernin’ H2O had some significant engine parts exit out of the oil pan on a sponsor ride. They will have a re-built engine for the August 26th event so that could play into the equation as we enter race #6 of the 2006 USSBA racing season.

I must pause here to mention that our hearts are heavy for Andie Weaver and her husband as their first-born son was lost in a drowning accident just two weeks ago. In fact, they were preparing to head to the race at Marsing when they learned that his body had been found. Andie called the track to let everyone know they were sorry not being able to make it to the race. We are happy you were able to make it to Richland and are looking forward to seeing you at Woodland.

In the SuperBoat class no one has had a more frustrating season than the Piranha team. After a race #1 win they have not run this boat at all. Tom and Linda (Laura, Linda, whatever) tried running Hendrickson’s boat at Marsing, but the results were not something anyone wants to talk about. However, it does indeed prove that “stuff” happens.

That opened up (wide open) the SuperBoat championship to Lee Rice and Darrin Hartwig and they have fully taken advantage with Lee Rice holding a slim lead over Darrin coming into this event.

Unfortunately the supercharged Screamin’ Eagle was not able to make the Richland race due to the fact that the boat was in the shop to touch-up the paint job from the roll at Marsing.

The Nelson/Ensminger team came into Richland like they had never left and turned the course into a Piranha-purple milkshake as they smoked the track time and time again. Flawless. Ultra-fast. Smooth as silk. They easily took the win.

However, Darrin Hartwig and Jessie Fowler secured the most exciting run of the race award and are firmly in the lead for the most exciting run of the season trophy (if there was one) with their final run. See the video HERE.

Darrin and Jessie were obviously hard at it right off the line and fast. However, partway into their run the handling went away and Hi-Tech Redneck started hopping and jumping through the start-corner mentioned earlier. Darrin then recovered and sent the boat flying through the course until the final time through the big sweeper at the top of the course.

They swung wide and smacked the bank. This threw the boat back into the water facing opposite of the course run and then the action began. Darrin tossed and threw the boat back on course with some of the most amazing maneuvers I have ever seen and finished the run.

Darrin and Jessie may have finished second in the points this day, but they were clearly first in the hearts of the fans as they were literally screaming, chanting and cheering them onto the finish line.

As a sidenote: The Hi-Tech Redneck also lost the bottom-end of their engine, but they (also) are in rebuild mode and will be ready for Woodland.

We enter the Woodland race with many questions yet to be answered. This 2006 season has been one of high attrition, accidents and mistakes. The championships all have yet to be decided. With double points issued for The Nationals at Richland on September 9th, anything can happen.

Come to Woodland, Washington to the charity event. It seems these days that true charity giving has gone away due to the high costs of gasoline, food and everything else associated with oil. Everything associated with this race will be donated to charity. From the food vendors to the beer garden, this is a non-profit race for charity.

See you in Woodland on August 26th.