Marine
Tim Seebold Wins Grand Prix of Naples
Terry Rinker Captures Fourth F1-ChampBoat Series Title
Mercury OptiMax Powers Merleau to Champ 2 Championship
FOND DU LAC, Wis., Nov. 4, 2008 – Tim Seebold of Osage Beach, Mo., driving a Mercury 2.5 EFI Champ race outboard-powered tunnel race boat of his own design, won the inaugural Grand Prix of Naples on LakeAvalon in Naples, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 2. The 60-lap race was the sixth and final round of the 2008 F1-ChampBoat Series. Seebold led from pole to the flag, taking his second straight victory of the season, winning by 3.6 seconds over Shaun Torrente of Miami, Fla.
”It was a rough race because of all the passing, but the circuit was a great place to race after all, despite it being only eight tenths of a mile (1.2 kilometers) in length. I can’t wait to come back here next year and try to do a double,” Seebold said.
Torrente needed to finish four places in front of series-points leader Terry Rinker of Tampa, Fla., to take the title. Torrente, running a leased stock powerhead from the on-site Mercury Racing race support trailer, battled Seebold and Rinker – both of whom run modified Mercury 2.5 EFI Champ race outboard power. Torrente’s driving talent, combined with pure guts and a drive to win, kept him in the running and thousands of fans on their feet as he nearly passed Seebold with eight laps to go.
“We did all we could do to win,” said Torrente.
“We had a satisfying season, winning more than anyone else and we are going to come back stronger next season and get that championship I know; with my great crew’s help and Ted Gryguc leading the way, it can be done,” Torrente said.
Chris Fairchild from Paw Paw, Ill., showed that he was back to full power after a horrific accident at the opening lap of the season, and finished the final races with back-to-back third place finishes.
A fourth place finish was all Terry Rinker needed to capture his fourth F1-ChampBoat series title.
”We had to bite our tongues to force ourselves not to push too much today,” said Rinker.
“The goal was the championship, not the race, and the crew did everything asked despite the pressure we were going through to come home with the ultimate victory,” Rinker said.
Todd Beckman of Fenton, Mo., driving a Mercury 2.5 EFI Champ race outboard powered Bud Light Seebold hull, rounded out fifth in Champ competition. All were powered by Mercury 2.5 EFI Champ race outboards.
Naples Grand Prix Results: | Series Championship Final Standings |
1 | Tim Seebold | | 1 | Terry Rinker | 3239 |
2 | Shaun Torrente | | 2 | Shaun Torrente | 3216 |
3 | Chris Fairchild | | 3 | Tim Seebold | 3143 |
4 | Terry Rinker | | 4 | Lynn Simburger | 2842 |
5 | Todd Beckman | | 5 | Brian Venton | 2819 |
6 | Jeff Shepard | | 6 | Jeff Shepard | 2793 |
7 | Brian Venton | | 7 | Randy Rinker | 2737 |
8 | Randy Rinker | | 8 | Matt Sadl | 2219 |
9 | Rob Dinicolentonio | | 9 | Nithat Khunjeng | 2168 |
10 | Billy Joule | | 10 | Todd Beckman | 1873 |
11 | Matt Sadl | | 11 | Mike Schubert | 1557 |
12 | David Brabham | | 12 | Chris Fairchild | 1530 |
13 | Mike Schubert | | 13 | Billy Joule | 916 |
14 | Ahmed Al Hameli | | 14 | Jose Mendana | 868 |
15 | Lynn Simburger | | 15 | Chuck Unkle | 836 |
