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A great day greeted the racers and crews as well as the wonderful fans at Lake Depue, as the day opened bright sunshine, low humidity, a gentle breeze and super hot racing in the 2011 Pro Nationals.
CRR kicked off the day, with JJ Walls taking the first heat of racing. JJ became the driver of record for the Walls family with Jay Sr. putting his young son in the drivers seat with 70 less pounds to carry, and Jay Sr. made the right call as JJ had a great weekend in the Racing and Service categories.
George Thornhill can only think what if, as he was unable to get the CRR on the water in the first heat, but took heats 2, and 3. Justin Gibson had a nice run as well and finished 3rd.
JJ 1000
George 800
Justin 675
250R
Here surviving was the name of the game. In the first heat Tim Small, Brandon Thirlby, and Paulie Bosnich all had their heat end on the front stretch with an arms length of one another. Buddy Tennell, Mike Krier, and Rich Krier were the three finishers. This was critical as the day wore on.
In the second heat it was Buddy Tennels turn with problems as he finished
5th. as Paul Bosnich took the heat. In the end the last man standing was Buddy in Miss Laurie.
Buddy 827
Mike 750
Paul 700
350H
Well you cannot get better than 3 heats straight and defending champion, David Mitchell did just that. He was flawless to everyone except the Asian Carp which put a hole in the right spon up to the deck. 100 mile an hour duct tape doing the trick to hold it all together for the 3rd heat. Great job David. Zach Malhoit went over in the bottom turn was able to show up in the 3rd heat.
You want to see determination, look into the eyes of Jeff Kugler who finished 2nd in all three heats, but not without some excitement. Jeff found himself in the 2nd and 3rd heats in no better than 5th or 6th for each start. Now as you know, getting up to someone is one thing, getting around them another, but Jeff put on one whale of show to finish each heat in 2nd.
ble
Mark Stahl put on a steller performance and finished 3rd, but the best part was Marty, his father, while in the hospital was able to watch on ustream.tv from his room. Get well Marty.
David 1200
Jeff 900
Mark 619
175R we had only 4 boats to start, but this is a brand new class and it will grow with this being a great engine for a runabout. In the 1st heat, we had two gunjumpers and that gave a win to Pete Voss and 2nd to Erin Barth. David Jones and Buddy Tennell receiving no points. Buddy Tennell won the next two heats, but Pete only had to finish to be able to win it all and he did.
Pete 1000
Buddy 800
Erin 638
700H was up next with the wiley veteran, David Hooten taking the 1st heat with 10 boats following in behind. Doug Hall took a second with Sean Mckean being a GJ for that heat. Doug Hall making a huge charge in the 2nd heat passed 4 boats, including David Hooten on the last lap for a win. In the 3rd heat Doug had to finish up toward the top to win it all with Jim Kirts finishing well in all 3 heats.
Doug 1000
Jim 652
Sean 625
CSH was up next with Jim Nilsen capturing the first two heats for this class with JJ Walls finishing 2nd in each heat, only to have Jim and JJ swap the 3rd heat. Justin Gibson put some good heats together to finish in the 3rd spot.
Jim 1100
JJ 1000
Justin 675
500R which was the last class of the day had the fans at the rail jumping up and down as these guys put on a show that will not soon be forgotten. Jared Gryskiewicz had won the 500R championship two years in a row. Jared was on pins and needles as his lovely wife Courtney is awaiting the birth of their daughter at any moment. Jared yesterday said I sure hope I can get 24hrs to finish the 500 and boy did he ever as he put a 3 heat win pin on all teh other 500's. In the last heat Pete Voss in the second spot, put a rush on Jared at the last corner, but Jared was able to hold him off. Greg Keller was unbeliveable as he ran as strong as I have ever seen him.
Jared 1200
Greg 694
Pete 522
Looking at the points for second and third you can see that there was a real mix of other drivers with good finishes.
Day 3 tomorrow, will not be able to post until Monday sometime.
Ray
CRR kicked off the day, with JJ Walls taking the first heat of racing. JJ became the driver of record for the Walls family with Jay Sr. putting his young son in the drivers seat with 70 less pounds to carry, and Jay Sr. made the right call as JJ had a great weekend in the Racing and Service categories.
George Thornhill can only think what if, as he was unable to get the CRR on the water in the first heat, but took heats 2, and 3. Justin Gibson had a nice run as well and finished 3rd.
JJ 1000
George 800
Justin 675
250R
Here surviving was the name of the game. In the first heat Tim Small, Brandon Thirlby, and Paulie Bosnich all had their heat end on the front stretch with an arms length of one another. Buddy Tennell, Mike Krier, and Rich Krier were the three finishers. This was critical as the day wore on.
In the second heat it was Buddy Tennels turn with problems as he finished
5th. as Paul Bosnich took the heat. In the end the last man standing was Buddy in Miss Laurie.
Buddy 827
Mike 750
Paul 700
350H
Well you cannot get better than 3 heats straight and defending champion, David Mitchell did just that. He was flawless to everyone except the Asian Carp which put a hole in the right spon up to the deck. 100 mile an hour duct tape doing the trick to hold it all together for the 3rd heat. Great job David. Zach Malhoit went over in the bottom turn was able to show up in the 3rd heat.
You want to see determination, look into the eyes of Jeff Kugler who finished 2nd in all three heats, but not without some excitement. Jeff found himself in the 2nd and 3rd heats in no better than 5th or 6th for each start. Now as you know, getting up to someone is one thing, getting around them another, but Jeff put on one whale of show to finish each heat in 2nd.
ble
Mark Stahl put on a steller performance and finished 3rd, but the best part was Marty, his father, while in the hospital was able to watch on ustream.tv from his room. Get well Marty.
David 1200
Jeff 900
Mark 619
175R we had only 4 boats to start, but this is a brand new class and it will grow with this being a great engine for a runabout. In the 1st heat, we had two gunjumpers and that gave a win to Pete Voss and 2nd to Erin Barth. David Jones and Buddy Tennell receiving no points. Buddy Tennell won the next two heats, but Pete only had to finish to be able to win it all and he did.
Pete 1000
Buddy 800
Erin 638
700H was up next with the wiley veteran, David Hooten taking the 1st heat with 10 boats following in behind. Doug Hall took a second with Sean Mckean being a GJ for that heat. Doug Hall making a huge charge in the 2nd heat passed 4 boats, including David Hooten on the last lap for a win. In the 3rd heat Doug had to finish up toward the top to win it all with Jim Kirts finishing well in all 3 heats.
Doug 1000
Jim 652
Sean 625
CSH was up next with Jim Nilsen capturing the first two heats for this class with JJ Walls finishing 2nd in each heat, only to have Jim and JJ swap the 3rd heat. Justin Gibson put some good heats together to finish in the 3rd spot.
Jim 1100
JJ 1000
Justin 675
500R which was the last class of the day had the fans at the rail jumping up and down as these guys put on a show that will not soon be forgotten. Jared Gryskiewicz had won the 500R championship two years in a row. Jared was on pins and needles as his lovely wife Courtney is awaiting the birth of their daughter at any moment. Jared yesterday said I sure hope I can get 24hrs to finish the 500 and boy did he ever as he put a 3 heat win pin on all teh other 500's. In the last heat Pete Voss in the second spot, put a rush on Jared at the last corner, but Jared was able to hold him off. Greg Keller was unbeliveable as he ran as strong as I have ever seen him.
Jared 1200
Greg 694
Pete 522
Looking at the points for second and third you can see that there was a real mix of other drivers with good finishes.
Day 3 tomorrow, will not be able to post until Monday sometime.
Ray
Yayyy Derek!!!! 
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