Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Driver, pit crew rebuild and finish in Top 8
The boat of driver Skylar Smith and navigator Marshall Bafus overturns and rolls across one of the "islands" in Webb's Slough. Both Smith and Bafus are from St. John.
Island hoppers help Team Pelican Fueling racers Dylan Hatch and Darin Mickelson, both of Pasco, back into a channel during a qualifying run at Webb's Slough.
The Ballz Out boat of driver Dean Lautenshlager and navigagtor Jack Bringman, both of Lewiston, Idaho, race in an Unlimited Class qualifier. The Ballz Out team finished third in its class.
The Sequim-based Live Wire team catches air after hitting an island during qualifying Saturday at Webb's Slough.
The Sequim-based Live Wire team flips during qualifying Saturday at Webb's Slough.
The Hammertime No. 29A boat, owned and driven by Rick Phillips of Spokane Valley, was eliminated in the Round of 8.
The No. 12 Bank Shot boat, driven by Daryl Healy of Caldwell, Idaho, and navigated by Michael Ostrem of Dwall, finished third in the Modified Class with a time of 43.12 seconds.
The No. 15M Rum Runner, driven by Jerimy Brewer of Kennewick and navigated by Presley Lollar of Benton City, finished in second place in the Unlimited Class on Saturday.
An island hopper throws an air filter system component to shore following the crash of a St. John-based boat.
ST. JOHN - A local sprint boat race team ended a qualifying run upside down in Webb's Slough, rebuilt the motor, and finished inside the Top 8.
More than two dozen North American Sprint Boat Association teams entered three classes at the Webb's Slough race on June 19. It was the first to take place since August 2019.
Sprint boat racing pits a driver and navigator against a maze of channels. At speeds reaching more than 80 mph, the driver concentrates on making turns as the navigator memorizes the course and directs the driver using hand motions.
Despite hot weather, race fans from all over the country took up seats on a tiered hillside and in the beer garden at 4480 Rogers Road.
Dean Lautenschlager, of Lewiston, finished third in the Unlimited Class in the Ballz Out boat and was the top area driver. His navigator was Jack Bringman, also of Lewiston.
Driver Skylar Smith and navigator Marshall Bafus, both St. John High School graduates, missed a turn during a 400 Class qualifying run. Their boat hit one of the slough's "islands," went airborne, and rolled sideways.
The final impact was upside down in the water, but the momentum righted the boat.
Multiple "island hoppers," who are similar to course marshals in other forms of racing, rushed to the boat to make sure both men were OK and clear the mostly submerged vessel from the course.
"It was driver error," the 24-year-old Smith said of the crash.
A former schoolmate of both men was among the people witnessing and responding to the crash.
Wyatt Wilson was the first to reach his friends.
"It was something," he said. "There was more adrenaline going through their bodies than anything."
Wilson said he worried when the boat initially rolled and impacted the water upside-down.
"They're a couple of my good friends and I didn't want to see them underwater," he said.
The uninjured Smith said he was more worried about finishing the race.
"I hope the motor is OK," he said immediately after the crash, noting they may have a few "bumps and bruises."
The impact ripped the air filter system off the carburetor. Water filled the fuel system, exhaust manifold, and oil reservoir.
After being towed off the course by a personal watercraft, the driver, navigator, and pit crew rushed to get their boat running. They pulled the carburetor and manifold and drained and refilled the oil.
They weren't able to get the boat together quick enough to make the fourth and final qualifying heat. But they had already done well enough to advance to the Top 8 elimination round.
As the elimination round started, the boat didn't. Smith requested a "wave off" to get the engine running and on the course.
Smith and Bafus entered the start channel and completed their final run, but only the four fastest boats advanced to the next round. They didn't make the cut.
Smith said he and his navigator plan to return for the next round of racing at Webb's Slough on Aug. 28.
Roger Harnack is the co-owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
The No. 208 Jolly Rogers boat with driver Dustin Springer of Spirit Lake, Idaho, and navigator Dawn Davis of Ketchikan, Alaska, takes a victory lap in the Modified Class with a championship time of 39.59 seconds.
Modified
1. 208 Jolly Rogers, driver Dustin Springer of Spirit Lake, Idaho, and navigator Dawn Davis of Ketchikan, Alaska, 39.59 seconds
2. 146A Jolly Rogers, driver Eric Werner of Arlington and navigator Tina Huff of Renton, 40.64 seconds
3. 29B Hammertime, driver Dennis Hughes of Greenacres and navigator Jennifer McClelland of Spokane Valley, 39.89 seconds
400
1. 47 Gold Rush, driver Darrin Swindahl and navigator Ashley Swindahl, both of Graham, 39.80 seconds
2. 156 Bad Influence, drive Steven Church of Cheshire, Ore., and navigator Lisa Bowman of Payette, Idaho, 40.36 seconds
3. 12 Bank Shot, driver Daryl Healy of Caldwell, Idaho, and navigator Michael Ostrem of Dwall, 43.12 seconds
Unlimited
1. 69 Overkill, driver Dennis Hughes and navigator Samantha Hughes, both of Greenacres, 37.46 seconds
2. 15M Rum Runner, driver Jerimy Brewer of Kennewick and navigator Presley Lollar of Benton City, by default with a did not finish (the other two competitor weren't able to start in the Final 4)
3. 411 Ballz Out, driver Dean Lautenschlager and navigator Jack Bringman, both of Lewiston, Idaho, 38.29 seconds in third qualifying round
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