Nicky Cutro, Jr., two time World and National Offshore Champion will be back in Key West for the World Championships to be held on November 2nd – 9th, 1997. This year he’s running a new boat and, looking at this year’s results, running it well. Scoring four first place finishes, a second, and a third, Cutro heads for the Worlds hungry to add another Championship title to his already impressive career record. Teamed with driver Richard Middleton from Sarasota, FL, Cutro and the Pennzoil boat have been nearly unstoppable this season. "Between the new boat and Rich’s deft touch on the wheel the top finishes just keep piling up…", Cutro said at an interview at his race facility in Lake George, NY. Nicky’s 14 years in offshore racing and reputation as one of the sports top throttleman have contributed to the Pennzoil Team's outstanding performance this year.
After a rough year in 1996 ending in the disaster at the World Championships in Key West where the old 30’ Pennzoil catamaran was destroyed by the unforgiving sea, Nicky is back to once again grab the spotlight and make another run for the winner’s circle. "Last year was a disappointment’, Cutro intones. "We’re here to set the record books straight and put the Pennzoil boat back at the front of the pack."
The World Championship event follows a two-race format, each race taking place on separate days. Each race will cover approximately one hundred miles, with over 100 boats participating in the week’s events. Teams will travel from across the country and around the world to attend this annual extravaganza, which brings in the world’s fastest and most fierce competitors. Last year over six nations were represented and this years event promises to be even bigger.
For 1997, the Boardwalk/Pennzoil Team added Richard Middleton as driver. Middleton, a 12-year veteran on the offshore circuit together with Cutro will pilot the new Pennzoil P-70 catamaran, a 32’ Skater powered by three (3) Mercury Offshore engines totaling 900 horsepower. With Cutro at the throttle and Middleton at the wheel, the boat's speedometer pushes past the 115MPH mark. Cutro says, "Rich’s touch on the wheel is almost eerie. I’ve been racing for years and these boats just never run this smooth..."
Known for running the top-notch sponsor program on the circuit, Cutro has attracted and holds many of the sports top name sponsors. Some of these sponsors include Pennzoil, Teleflex, Performance Custom Trailers, Weldon Racing Pumps, Raceday Products, Custom Restraint & Strap, Interstate Batteries, Econo Lodge, J. Lucarelli & Sons, Inc., and All Waves Discount Marine. The list continues to grow as more sponsors request exposure with this championship team.
Additionally, the team is pleased to announce that the Econo Lodge Resort of Key West is graciously hosting them. From November 2nd through November 9th the team can be reached for media interviews or general questions at:
| The Econo Lodge Resort of
Key West 3820 N. Roosevelt Blvd Key West, FL 33040 |
For reservations or
questions: Phone: (305) 294-5511 Fax: (305) 296-1939 |
Visit the Pennzoil Team and its sponsors on the web at: http://www.pennzoiloffshorerace.com