Glen Wilson’s “Toxic Rocket” Top Fuel Hydro started off the day with a fire.

Lakefest drag boats at Marble Falls, Texas

Words and photos by JM Hallas

After a full day of testing, tuning and practice on Friday, Aug. 8, the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series began their qualification runs on Lake Marble Falls for the 23rd Annual Lakefest. Seems like every year that the LODBRS rolls into town, the temperatures get as hot as the action on the “liquid quarter mile” -- or 1,000 feet as the case may be.

After a somewhat lengthy delay for winds on the course hampering the first round of Pro Qualifying, the Top Fuel Hydros hit the water. The first pair both spit and sputtered their way down when problems struck.

Glen Wilson in “Toxic Rocket” had a fire erupt on-board that safety crews battled. Just when it looked to be out, it continued to flare up, long after the driver had escaped. After several tries, crews attempted to swamp the boat to extinguish the flames. Once swamped, and flames out, the boat went sponsors up before being hoisted out by the crane.

The first pair of Alcohol Flat Bottoms saw issues from the get-go when local driver and former circle track racer, Marcus Kinsey, had something break in the driveline and knock a hole in the bottom. Kinsey quickly summoned help, but about 20 feet before shore the boat went down with Kinsey diving/jumping off the nose to safety. “Bad Company” indeed. Shane Morrison’s “Lil' Bit of Madness” was the only Top Alcohol Hydro to make a pass and after a nose up launch he drifted towards the starting lights and cut the anchor rope.

Scotty Lumbert in “Spirit of Texas” was the only Top Fuel Hydro to attempt a second pass and he made it pay off for the top spot. Daryl Ehrlich's “Problem Child” was number one after round one, but Lumbert's 3.763 at 218.531 mph bettered Ehrlich’s 4.101 at 246.144 for the best run of the weekend.

Top Fuel Hydro Qualifying
Round 1
Daryl Ehrlich, Problem Child, 4.101 at 246.144
Glen Wilson, Toxic Rocket, 5.349 at 91.766
Jeff Gregory, E3/Safety Clean, 5.971 at 81.577
Scott Lumbert, Spirit of Texas, N/T
Bryan Sanders, Nitrochondriac, N/T

Round 2
Scotty Lumbert, Spirit of Texas, 3.763 at 218.531