MISC: Raul Boesel Finishes Second in the First Boat Race
9 November 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
20th Annual Fountain Super Boat Key West World Championship
Key West, Fla. Brazilian racer Raul Boesel narrowly missed victory in the first round of the Super Boat World Championship finishing second in the Rio Roses Cigarette boat with veteran Phil Lipschutz at the throttle. Boesel and Lipschutz were able to lead several laps in the 98-mile race before narrowly succumbing on the rough seas, crossing the finish line just 0.5 second behind the leaders.
It was a very tight race from the beginning, Boesel explained, and were still very much in the hunt for the championship. We ran neck and neck with the Fountain, but they were able to overtake us. The seas were very rough today with waves six to eight feet tall, and the Rio Roses struggled a bit. Were going to run different propellers in the final race, and hopefully that will give us the advantage we need over the Fountain. Im very optimistic about our chances for winning this championship title.
The final race to determine the Super Boat World Championship will be held Saturday, November 11 in Key West, Florida.
Boesel and Lipschutz finished fourth in the 2000 National Championship despite not contesting two races. The Rio Roses entry collected four top-three finishes in this seasons nationals: second place finishes at Miami and Nassau and third place at Key West and New York. Boesel missed the New Jersey event while competing at the Indianapolis 500, and a pre-race mechanical failure prevented the Rio Roses from starting at Deerfield Beach.
Text provided by Melissa Watson
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