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**DiGia54D** · 06-04-2013, 09:59 AM

Here is an Artical that was posted on MaxSportschannels I though was real good.

Thursday May 23rd was slightly overcast as we pulled into Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin for the third stop of the US Title Series Powerboat Racing Championships for 2013. The last two weeks of devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma and the threat of them throughout the mid-west was abated by the Memorial Day Weekend race. The USTS seemed to provide a welcome distraction from the devastation and despair. But the rough water and cool temperatures concerned some but that was only the start of it.

Earlier in the day, concern over the availability of Pleasant Prairie Divers came into question. After several, quickly put together meetings, it seemed that that issue was resolved. However, the capsule boats and the Pleasant Prairie divers’ experience with them again plague the event. While attempts were made to timeshare USTS divers an agreement would not be forthcoming by race time. Consequently, the Top Hydro Class would be absent for the event. The Top Hydro teams were left wondering if it was worth the trip and feelings related to this matter ranged from skeptical understanding to outright rage.

But with all the unpredictability of the last few weeks weather, Friday brought a crisp day of testing and in a very short time the annoyance and disappointment would be replaced with two days of excellent and memorable racing action. It was like the other categories stepped up to the plate and drove it right out of the Pleasant Prairie Park.

Saturday’s program started with the 250cc Runabout, featuring Tim Small convincingly winning all three heats. But Richard Krier shadowed Tim Small on each heat not able to pass him on the turns nor catch him in the straight aways. The cagy veterans played cat and mouse through most of the lapses with Small getting the better of Krier. Andrew Thirlby, JP Jedwabny, Joe Franck, and Paul Bosnich III each challenged Small to no avail.

Always exciting and competitive, the 125cc Hydro took to the course. All three heats were decided with positioning into the last turn of each heat. Todd Anderson came away with the title, but Jake Quesse won 2 of the heats. Jake’s engine problem in the first heat allowed Todd to squeeze past him in points. Brian Palmquist and John Maddrell were plagued with varying degrees of engine gremblins while Brandan Vishoot, Baylee Burklund and Ryan Barth rounded out the final places.

Closing out the first flight of races, the 350cc Hydro barreled onto the lake. On Friday, Ike Yoder tore off a piece of the hull of his M50 hydro during a test lap. Sanding, patching, patience and concentration of his crew kept Ike in the race. But race day was here and Gary Buskirk Jr. proved to be elusive capturing 2 of the 3 heats. Michael W. Schmidt was close but was pleased with a second finish. Ike Yoder was grinning with third knowing the efforts to get on the water did not go unrewarded. Amy Nydhal and William Tetro closed out the final positions with Jeff Kugler and Ben Thompson struggled with mechanical issues.

The second flight of races closing out Saturday’s program was both a treat to veterans of the sport and a shot in the arm with a new racer easing behind the wheel. K-PRO introduced Brianna Payn to the ranks of USTS racers. Brianna’s dad, Brian Payn 500cc Runabout driver for the Wright Racing team and his own Pro-Payn team running in the 350cc Runabout. The racing action provided a quick look at the future with Parker Thirlby coming in first, Kurtis Nydhal taking second and Brianna Payn taking third.

Closing out Saturday with the 500cc Runabout was yet another nail-bitter with veteran Pete Voss pointing his way to victory. Brian Pyan took second winning 2 of the heats but dying in the final turn of the first heat. Brennen Burklund took third and Mike Thirlby fourth. Mike won the first heat but during the second heat died coming out of the first turn. Derek Gesler also had severe engine problems in the first heat and was unable to get back on the water.

The Braut Spot was the place Saturday night after the racing to sit down, relax and chat with the racers, their families and friends. The food was excellent, the entertainment, supplied by Peter Nydahl included some excellent past racing footage. Some dating back to the 1960s and Curt Gowdy and Vitalis. It was a pleasure seeing the racing action from all ages of racing and getting a little does of Powerboat racing history. Many thanks to the Braut Spot for an excellent evening. I won’t get into the pit stop we took back at the pits, that will be for another post.

Sunday brought great weather, a reminder that spring is here and the 250cc Hydro took to the water. The field was loaded with 10 entries and when the clock wound down, all boats were legal as they dived into the first turn. As tight as it gets, the boats of Kurtis Nydahl, Amy Nydahl, Erik Schmidt Michael W. Schmidt were caught in a tug of war from heat to heat. Brennen Burklund, Ben Thompson, Brian Palmqust and Wayne Digiacomo were fixing to play spoilers as they each sliced there way through the backstretch. Both William Tetro and Jeff Kugler were sidelined due to engine problems. In the end, Kurtis Nydahl edged out sister Amy, while Eric Schmidt edged out brother Michael W. Smith. Brennen Burklund, Ben Thompson, Brian Palmquist, and Wayne Digiacomo round out the rest of the field.

125cc Runabout hit the water next Paul Bosnich III pointing his way to victory over Tim Small. Tim took 2 heats but again died coming out of the first turn giving Paul the opportunity to take the race. Andrew Thirlby took third, Brian Barth, and Todd Anderson rounded out the field.

The 350cc Runabout was up next with the usually head to head battles taking shape between Richard Krier, Tim Small, Brian Payn, Joe Franck and Jay Anderson. At one point Krier and Small were within a feet of each as they vied for position through both turns. Payn trailed waiting for Small and Krier to eliminate each other. Small takes heat one because all other boats jumped the gun; but in heats two and three ended up sitting in the water coming out of the first turn of the third lapse. Krier took the race placing first in heat 2 and 3, while Payn took second in two heats holding on to the number 2 spot, while Joe Franck held on to take third.

The weekend of racing closed with the 175cc Hydro. 7 boats went into the water and Eric Schmidt took the race. It came down to the final heat with John Maddrell and Kurtis Nydahl keeping the pressure on Schmidt. Schmidt was up to the challenge holding on for victory. Jake Quesse, Baylee Burklund, Jon Wienhart, Ryan Barth and Brad Greenslaugh rounded out the field.

Winona MN is coming up on June 20-22. Winona has the Steamboat Days Festival which is an all week town block party, so it should be a great week of activities and racing. See you there.

**pdlweb** · 06-15-2013, 08:34 PM

Sorry ... forgot to get over here ...

http://maxsportschannels.com/msc-tv/

it is all the races and all the heats ...

We don't youtube it for number of reasons that are unrelated to pwr but it has more to do with youtube itself ....

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US Title Series - Pleasant Prairie 2013

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