On June 1st., Nicky Cutro's Pennzoil sponsored 32' catamaran started the United States Offshore Pro Tour with a BIG SPLASH and a FIRST PLACE WIN !
After a devastating crash at the World Championship race in Key West last November, the veteran Pennzoil sponsored 30' Shadow Cat was left un-raceable and a new boat was in order. Boardwalk Racing acquired the 32' Douglas Skater Catamaran a mere 3 weeks prior to the first race of the U.S. Offshore Pro Tour at Lake Winnipesaukee, NH.
Sporting bright new yellow paint and Pennzoil "Red Bell" graphics, along with crew chief Doug Holl's meticulous handiwork, the offshore racer was ready for battle.
Poor weather in Florida and canceled flights would force the team to make a last minute change and recruit the 1996 Rookie Of The Year, Rob Winoski, for driving duties. Just minutes earlier, Rob had won his class racing the A-1 Bronx Phantom boat in the preliminary feature and had to scramble back to the P-70 Pennzoil boat. With Winoski settled in, Nick Cutro blasted on the throttles to catch the field that now had a 3 1/2 mile head start.
The flat waters of New Hampshire proved friendly and by the 5th lap of the 90 mile race, Cutro and Winoski were in sync and had caught up to the leader. The next 3 laps bere battled back and forth with the P-27 Defender boat from Maine, until the Pennzoil racer passed and led the final lap to the checkered flag. Said Cutro; "It took a few laps to get a feel for the new boat and driver, but once we caught the rest of the field, I just set my sights on winning."
The next stop, Chicago - June 14th - and it lived up to it's reputation as "The Windy City"! With the Bulls winding up their championship on Friday, mother nature whipped up some 15 - 20 MPH winds on Lake Michigan on Saturday.
With the regular team driver Rich Middleton behind the wheel, Nick brought the Pennzoil catamaran charging to the lead each time they passed the thousands of spectators viewing from the Navy Pier, but would loose position outside the breakers where the steady north wind had stirred Lake Michigan into an ocean-like 6' to 8' chop. By the third lap the rough conditions caused one of the triple 2.5 liter 300+ HP outboard power plants to shut down unexpectedly and sporadically throughout the remaining 6 laps. Unable to catch up to the leading P-27 Defender boat, they held off the P-2 Race America boat to capure a 2nd place finish. "I couldn't get her to fly straight out in the rough but inside the breakers the acceleration was awesome" said Cutro. "Rich hit the pins (turns) great, but with the engine problem...I just couldn't catch up."
This puts the Pennzoil and Defender tems in a tie for the National Points Championship on the U.S. Offshore Pro Tour.
The next stop on the U.S. Offshore Pro Tour will be Point Pleasant NJ, July 16 where the Boardwalk / Pennzoil team hopes to make it a BIGGER SPLASH!
Quipped Nicky "...winning this race the last 2 years will crank everyone up a notch against us, so we're gonna be ready...I can smell a 3-peat".
Crew Chief Doug Holl commented "...the old Shadow Cat was a rough water friendly boat manufactured in New Jersey, which made it a favorite on the Jersey Shore. After the rough racing conditions in Chicago, we know exactly what to do to make the new 32' Skater be the front runner."
For complete race schedule, pictures, team information and television broadcast schedules, check out the web site at: