Series Record Book in Jeopardy as Sport's Fastest Drag Boats Look to Kick Off 2011 Season On a Winning Note
GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY – May 4, 2011 – As the 2011 CoolTrade Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series MayFest at Firebird International Raceway draws near, one thing can be said with near certainty. Based upon several recent visits to Firebird Lake, the existing Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series record book will need a major revision following the May 27-29 event.
World records just don't last very long when the sport's fastest drag boats and drivers enter Arizona waters – for proof, just check out what happened when the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series last scorched Firebird Lake this past November. When it was all said and done, both owner Eddie Knox and his Top Fuel Hydro Problem Child and driver Joel Webber in his What a Tomato Too Top Alcohol Hydro drag boat had each torched the record book for two new world records en route to season-ending victories.
Several other records were challenged in multiple classes of drag boat racing, setting the table for some wild runs when the Series makes its season opening return to Firebird later this month.
For Knox and the Problem Child, driven by Daryl Ehrlich, setting a new elapsed time (ET) record of 3.597 and 251.593 miles-per-hour was nothing all that unusual; it marked the second consecutive year this sassy youngster recorded a new world record on the waters of Firebird Lake.
Knox explained Problem Child seems to be a perfect fit for Firebird Lake: "Our set-up seems to really like the density of the water here…It's really the best place there is in drag boat racing."
Weber and What a Tomato Too, meanwhile, needed every bit of their record ET of 4.39 and 205.987 mph to earn the win over Mike Fry's Meanstreak. The duo is expected to resume their high-speed rivalry this May.
Under the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series umbrella, drag boat racing has united and agreed upon a single rule book, bringing together approximately 900 race teams nationwide. This newfound unity helps guarantee the continued growth of the sport, and ensure the sport's top stars will continue returning to Firebird Lake for more record-breaking runs every season!
General Admission tickets for the 2011 CoolTrade Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series MayFest begin at $15 for Friday, $20 for Saturday and $25 for Sunday; 3-day GA/PIT tickets are $50. Kids 12 and under receive free general admission seating with a paying adult, and general parking per day is $10. Gates will open at 10 am on Friday, and 7 am on Saturday and Sunday.
To learn more or purchase tickets, please call 602-268-0200, or visit firebirdraceway.com.
