31st Annual Lakefest @ Lake Marble Falls 6/9/24
By JM Hallas
Marble Falls, TX., (June 9th, 2024) “The Fastest Show on Water”
Heat and repeat!
Sunday’s elimination day started the Southern Drag Boat Associations 50th year as they kicked off the 2024 points season. It started off looking good with a slight breeze and calm waters. So it was time to see would be the best of the best in each class. Good conditions continued throughout eliminations with, thankfully, no stoppages for the ol’ fickle wind.
The day started with a couple license passes before opening ceremonies and eliminations kicked off with the Personal Water Craft. There were even some surprises with lower qualified boats taking out top qualifiers starting in round one.
Former NHRA Nitro Harley champ Ricky House made a pass midway through the day in his Top Alcohol Hydro in an exhibition run. House would return at the end to make another run where he greatly improved previous laying down a 4.842 @ 183.33
Finally after lots on anticipation, Cole Allen was towed to the rope with his Top Fuel Hydro(Liquid Voodoo). After many hours of work during the weekend by the crew, fans who waited it out were treated to an over 200mph pass as Allen made a full pull.
Top Fuel Hydro
Cole Allen(Liquid Voodoo)
Top Alcohol Hydro
Ricky House(Bad Moon Rising) 4.842 @ 183.33
Pro Outlaw(5.20)
Gus Ward made it two in a row in Lakefest competition matching up with Mickey Snider. Both left with nearly identical reaction times,(.061 to .059), but by 660′ Ward was slowly taking the advantage and took the win by .254.
Gus Ward(Whiskey), 5.283 @ 170.33
Mickey Snider(Top Gun), 5.540 @ 164.42
Pro Modified(5.60)
Cade Janecek made it back to the Lakefest finals again this time paired with Jay Hudgins. Janecek went .025 red then broke before half course, while Hudgins cruised past to take the win.
Jay Hudgins(Aquahaulic) 5.728 @ 161.57
Cade Janecek(All or Nothing), No time
Pro Jet(660′)
In the Pro Jet finals it was Dawson Dickerson getting redemption from last years red light in the finals as he matched up with Stacy Sopchak. Sopchak was the one to go red this time leaving Dickerson to snag the victory.
Dawson Dickerson(Cant Quit), 3.687 @ 131.01
Stacy Sopchack(Money in Motion) 3.747 @ 135.10
Pro Comp Flat(dial in)
In the Pro Comp Flat finals it was Ashley Winslett meeting up with Frank Carter. Carter got a little over a tenth at the start, but Winslett was able to drive around him, picking up her first ever Pro Comp Flat victory by .052(52/1000th)
Ashley Winslett(Vanishing Breed) 6.267 @ 124.77
Frank Carter(Flat Flyin) 6.253 @ 115.01
Top Alcohol Flat(6.60′)
At the start Justin Stuard had issues, first going red and slowing after breaking the beams. Bill Diez would make basically a solo run for the win as Stuard coasted to the finish.
Bill Diez(War Party Rides Again) 4.007 @ 142.28
Justin Stuard(Party to the Max) 17.702 @ 5.90
Quick Eliminator(6.00)
In the Quick finals it was Jason Gothard matched up with last years Lakefest winner Jerry Branum. Gothard, and his good luck pole dancer, laid an .014 light on Branum(.051) and held on to grab the win by a mere .058(58/1000th) margin.
Jason Gothard(Texas Red), 6.06 @ 145.52
Jerry Branum(Back in the Day), 6.08 @ 124.13
Pro Eliminator(6.50)
Dr. Don Topliff was paired with Bob Winder in the Pro Eliminator finals. Topliff got 3/10th on the start and it was pretty much over unless Topliff would break out on the big end, which he did not.
Dr. Don Topliff(Late Life Crisis) 6.567 @ 136.45
Bob Winder(Mommas Diamond) 7.158 @ 100.16
Top Eliminator(7.00)
Top Eliminator finals saw Matt Miller, who went undefeated in 2023, start off the new year with yet another victory. Miller got a few hundredth on the light and carried it to the finish against a charging Grant Snider.
Matt Miller(Miller Time), 7.387 @ 83.52
Grant Snider(Big Iron), 7.913 @ 92.09
Modified Eliminator(8.00)
The Modified Eliminator finals was decided at the starting bouy when Bruno Knopp went red by .021 handing the win to Kevin Walton, who may have gotten thrown in the water by his dad after the awards ceremony.
Kevin Walton(Play n’ Hooky) 8.318 @ 101.29
Grant Snider(Big Iron) 8.311 @ 90.04
Stock Eliminator(Dial in)
The Stock Eliminator saw two second generation drivers square off the win. Michael Boehme got a 1/10 on the start eased away to the victory over Brandon Lempar.
Michael Boehme(Blackies Magic) 10.601 @ 67.92
Brandon Lempar(Lets Go Brandon) 11.049 @ 66.06
Personal Water Craft(Dial in)
In the Personal Water Craft finals it would be Teagan Finnigan going at it with Kanyon Parsley. Parsley would go red by .035 giving the win to Finnigan
Teagan Finnigan(What?) 13.191(13.01) @ 54.53
Kanyon Parsley(Mad at the World) 14.270(14.20) @ 51.36
1 Top Fuel Hydro Cole Allen
2 Top Alcohol Hydro Ricky House
3 Pro Outlaw winner Gus Ward
4 Pro Modified winner Jay Hudgins
5 Pro Jet winner Dawson Dickerson
6 Pro Comp Flat winner Ashley Winslett
7 Top Alcohol Flat winner Bill Diez
8 Quick Eliminator winner Jason Gothard
9 Pro Eliminator winner Dr. Don Topliff
10 Top Eliminator winner Matt Miller
11 Modified Eliminator winner Kevin Walton
12 Stock Eliminator winner Michael Boehme
13 Personal Water Craft winner Teagan Finnagan
