Lucas Drag Boat Racing Series at Marble Falls, Texas

Tragedy Mars Great Racing at Lakefest

Words and photos by JM Hallas

Top Alcohol Hydro racers Steve Streeter (near) and Rick Allen make a tribute lap to their fallen friend, Mike Fry.

After a clean and safe first two days during qualifying for the 24th Annual Lakefest at Lake Marble Falls, there were two major incidents during elimination rounds on Sunday, Aug. 9.

In Top Alcohol Hydro, Mike Fry crashed hard at the top end, destroying his boat. The capsule was quickly retrieved by safety crews and Fry was Care Flighted to an Austin area hospital. Unfortunately, he did not survive.

Mike Babin, in his Pro Eliminator boat, got airborne and had the boat catch an edge, breaking apart. Babin was thrown clear of the wreck and swam towards the safety boat. He was taken in to a local hospital complaining of a leg injury. Thankfully, he returned to the pit area before the end of the day.

Final eliminations were up for grabs after none of Friday's fast qualifiers in the pro classes kept the lead on Saturday and only half of the sportsman class leaders from Friday were still number one after Saturday.

At the end of Saturday qualifying it was Scotty Lumbert (Top Fuel Hydro), Mike DeClark (Top Alcohol Hydro), Randy Ball (Top Alcohol Flat), Jim Richards (Pro Outlaw), and Shawn Reed (Pro Modified) at the top qualifying spots in the pro classes.

Ronnie Hodge (Quick), Shelby Ebert (Pro), GW Goff (Top), Greg Carr (Modified), Steve Walls (Stock), Michael Ratliff (River Racer), Becky Sternadel (PWC1), and Cole Tutle (PWC2) led their classes.

Scott Lumbert (near lane) against Tommy Rice in the first round.

Top qualifier and current points leader, Scott Lumbert in the MavTV “Spirit of Texas” Top Fuel Hydro had no trouble making it to the finals where he was paired with Friday’s top qualifier, Bryan Sanders in the General Tire, Nitrochondriac. Lumbert got a tenth on the lights then busted off a 3.582/256.323 pass against Sanders 3.723/243.506.