After winning back-to-back races to start the 2019 season, defending NGK Spark Plugs F1 Powerboat Championship series champion Austin Rinker isn’t lacking for confidence. The Riverview, Fla., driver sponsored by Rinker’s Boat World and McLain Trailers led the entire race, which included several restarts, in front of a standing-room only crowd at Promenade Park on the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday.

“We had the perfect setup for the water over the weekend,” Rinker said. “It got a little rough about halfway through the final race, but my boat was running flawless. The most difficult part of the race was getting through the lap traffic and picking the best points to make that happen.”

Rinker managed to hold off second-place finisher Rusty Wyatt in the Crystal Clear Wiper Blades boat and third-place finisher Chris Fairchild in the Lottery.com boat to snag the top spot on the podium at the Rock the River event, a new venue for the series. Considering his recent success, Rinker understands he is the driver everyone wants to beat.

Check out more images from the Rock the River race in Toledo, Ohio, in the slideshow above.

“I enjoy having the target on my back—it makes me drive harder and it makes me want to win even more,” he said. “I told them all I’m the best in the business, so I have to back that up. We take boat racing very seriously and because I’ve grown up around the sport I know how much work you have to put in. It doesn’t happen over night, and it’s not about how much money you can throw at it. It’s about time, effort, work ethic and experience. I’ve paid my dues to get to this point—nothing was handed to me. And I intend to continue to be the best in the business because of that.”

Rinker added that he was proud of his cousin, Chris Rinker, who was running strong before he flipped his boat early in the final. He also said he’s looking forward to the next stop of the NGK F1 series in Bay City, Mich., a historic tunnel boat race site that features a notoriously rough course, in a couple of weeks (July 12-14).

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2019 Note Banner

 

The 2019 NGK Spark Plugs Formula One Powerboat Championship Racing Series

By Valerie Collins

The NGK Spark Plugs Formula One Powerboat Championship racing series, showcasing the stars of the powerboat racing world, primes for its third consecutive year of world class boat racing in 2019. This outboard series features the always-magnificent Formula One class, along with the speedy F-Light tunnels, thunderous Tri Hulls and the younger pilots of J-Hydro.

NGK F1 PC will soon be bringing its action-packed program to seven events in five different states, including four sites that are new to the series. The kick-off event will be at a brand-new location in Baytown, TX on April 7, 2019. Toledo, OH, Bay City, MI and Windsor, CO are the other new sites added for 2019.

In late June, F1 boat racing will return to the Toledo, OH riverfront after a hiatus of over 30 years. Perennial favorite, Bay City, MI, which has been a hotbed of powerboat racing for decades, returns in 2019 with F1, F-Light, Tri-Hull and J-Hydro as the newly dubbed “Rockin the River”.  Windsor, CO, another site from boat racing history, has been resurrected by NGK F1 for 2019 as well, and will also feature the four NGK F1 classes.

Adding to the prestige of the NGK F1 Powerboat Championship Series is the announcement that the American Powerboat Association (APBA) has awarded the 2019 APBA National Championships to NGK F1 for the classes F1, SST-45 (F-Lights), and Tri-Hull. The National Championships will be held at the Windsor, Colorado NGK F1 event on Aug 31-Sep 1.

APBA has also granted “Major Series Status” to NGK F1 for the SST45/F-Lights class in 2019. This Series recognition, along with the APBA National Championships, will give our participants an added opportunity to earn APBA points toward the esteemed APBA Hall of Champions (HOC).

Major Series: Champion earns 3 points towards the APBA HOC.

National Championship: Winner earns 2 points towards the APBA HOC.

North American Championship: Winner earns 3 points towards the APBA HOC.

At press time, an application was pending for NGK F1 APBA Regional Championships for both Pittsburgh and Port Neches, where the winner could earn one-half point toward the APBA HOC.

The full season schedule is as follows:

Apr 7:  Baytown, TX – Formula One, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro

NOTE: F1 and F-Light will run at Baytown, TX as non-Series classes

May 3-5:  Port Neches, TX – Formula One, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro

http://pnriverfest.com

Jun 28-29:  Toledo, OH – Formula One

https://www.facebook.com/events/1210955359029299/

Jul 12-14: Bay City, MI – Formula One, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro

www.rockintheriver.com

Aug 2-4: Pittsburgh, PA – Formula One, F-Light

http://yougottaregatta.org

Aug 9-11: Springfield, OH – Formula One, F-Light, J-Hydro

http://www.springfieldf1grandprix.com

Aug 31-Sep 1: Windsor, CO – Formula One, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro

www.roaroftherockies.com

2018 saw some of the most intense racing competition in the sport’s history, producing five different Formula One winners in six events. This phenomenal show of racing action helped spark a wave of new driver enthusiasm, encouraging nine new Formula One pilots to join NGK Formula One in 2019 who form a mix of new boat racers and established boat racers stepping up from supporting classes.

Some of these new drivers coming up from F-Light class are names that have been on the podium in the past, including 2018 F-Light champion, #8 Jeremiah Mayo, who earned a spot on the NGK podium in four out of six F-Light races last season and stood on the podium twice in Tri-Hull.

In addition to those drivers coming up from the F-Lights class, we will see multi-APBA National Champion, #93 RJ West of “Chuck Skelton Racing” from California, competing in a brand new Composite Craft Formula One hull that he designed and built himself. Texan, Austin Cheatham #40, the 2017 F-Light Rookie of the Year, has graduated out of his F-Light ride and will be running an Formula One Grand Prix hull in 2019. Former Tri-Hull racer, #52 Chris Rinker, who won two events last season, will be joining the Formula One ranks in 2019, where he will team up with his cousin, 2018 Formula One Series Champion, Florida’s #20 Ashton Rinker and Crew Chief, James Chambers.

Other drivers who are slated to be joining the 2019 series are Tennesseans #17 Dylan Anderson, son of returning Formula One racer #94 Ray Anderson — both to be powered by Yamaha outboard engines — as well as drivers Jeff Ettinger, Eric Talochino, Mike Quindazzi and Jude Gaspard — a long-time crew member for the Formula One 2018 runner-up, #2 Tracy Hawkins. Watch for Hawkins to be red hot in 2019, as he will be debuting the boat he’s been working on all winter, in a hunt for a championship that narrowly slipped by him in 2018.

As the NGK Spark Plugs Formula One Powerboat Championship prepares for its third season of highly competitive powerboat racing, the drivers and teams are busy at their race shops, eager to return to the water to entertain the fans.

Several teams have been adding new boats to their stables. California’s #24 Spencer Love is expected to debut the latest carbon fiber design from Hoffman Composite Race Boats — a boat builder who is back after being out of the sport for over a decade. #57 David McMurray of TN will be revealing his brand new race craft; a sleek, patriotic-themed carbon fiber Seebold hull.

Series Manager, Tim Seebold, is looking forward to another great season in 2019. “The Series is very excited to put on a show at four brand new venues as well as our three very popular existing sites, where we will deliver our heart-pounding program to the fans who enjoy the adrenaline-charged action that NGK Formula One racing brings.”

Greenlight TV will film the NGK Spark Plugs Formula One Powerboat Championship racing action all season long, producing a 30-minute show of each event to air on CBS Sports Network. You can also watch the shows on Motor Trend On Demand for a minimal fee.  In 2018, CBS Sports Network television coverage reached 2.7 billion households with 45 airings of the 6 episodes (a 225% increase over 2017, and a 420% increase worldwide to 9 billion households). To view the shows on-demand, visit: https://www.motortrendondemand.com/show/us-f1-powerboats-championship-/73231972/.

Live-Streamed racing action will be again produced by Greenlight TV to air on the NGK Series and NGK’s facebook pages.  https://www.facebook.com/NGKF1PowerboatChampionship. Find additional information on the NGK Spark Plugs Powerboat Championship on our website, www.ngkf1.com.

The NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship is ecstatic to have the strong commitment of title sponsor, NGK Spark Plugs  – The Ignition Specialist. Since 1936, NGK Spark Plugs has been the world leader in technology, innovation, and world-class quality in the design of spark plugs and oxygen sensors. Today, NGK manufactures NGK Spark Plugs and NTK Oxygen Sensors for virtually every automotive manufacturer in the world.

NGK has built a reputation for quality and reliability, and a commitment to excellence continues to be the driving force behind the company’s advanced research and development programs. In North America, NGK is headquartered in Wixom, MI and maintains manufacturing, inventory, and distribution facilities in Irvine, CA, Sissonville, WV, and Chicago, IL.

Get more information on the exciting NGK Spark Plugs Formula One Powerboat Championship by visiting www.ngkf1.com, or follow NGK F1 Powerboat Championship on Facebook.

[hr] NGK Formula One Powerboat Championship 2019 Note Pre Race Banner

2019 NGK Formula One Powerboat Championship Race 2 – Port Neches, Texas

The NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship will be roaring into Southeast Texas May 3-5, 2019 for the thrill-inducing “Thunder on the Neches” powerboat races as the highlight of the five-day Port Neches “RiverFest”. The grand celebration, held at Port Neches City Park, will feature something for every member of the family, including action-packed boat racing, live music, food, games, playground, shopping, a car and motorcycle show, and a spectacular fireworks display. Five days of fun will start on Wednesday, May 1st and run through Sunday, May 5th, with “front and center” race track seating so fans will have the best views of the whole race course. Boat racing finals will be held on Sunday when the public can enter for free!

Fans will be entertained by all four of the super competitive classes within the NGK Spark Plugs Formula One Powerboat series; the junior racers of J-Hydro, Tri-Hull, Formula Light and the blistering-fast Formula 1.

The 2018 NGK Formula One tour saw a bonanza of new racer sign-ups, creating the largest fields of race boats in over 20 years. The 2019 season will have even larger boat counts, as nine new rookie drivers have recently joined the series.

The winner of last year’s “Thunder on the Neches” Formula 1 class, Tracy Hawkins #2 of Willis, TX, will return to defend his title in a brand new tunnel boat that he designed and built himself. Jeremiah Mayo #8, of Richmond, TX, made history in 2018 by taking the victory in both the Formula Light and Tri-Hull at Port Neches. This year, Mayo has opted for more speed, and will return to show off his skills behind the wheel of a Formula 1 race craft.

Follow the NGK Formula One Powerboat series all season long.

2019 The NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship Schedule:

May 3-5: Port Neches, TX – Formula One, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro http://pnriverfest.com

Jun 28-29: Toledo, OH – Formula One https://www.facebook.com/events/1210955359029299/
Jul 12-14: Bay City, MI – Formula One, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro www.rockintheriver.com
Aug 2-4: Pittsburgh, PA – Formula One, F-Light http://yougottaregatta.org
Aug 9-11: Springfield, OH – Formula One, F-Light, J-Hydro http://www.springfieldf1grandprix.com
Aug 31-Sep 1: Windsor, CO – Formula One, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydr0 www.roaroftherockies.com

2019 marks the third year of NGK Spark Plugs Formula One Powerboat Championship its highly acclaimed powerboat racing competition. The drivers and teams are eager to return to Port Neches to entertain their fans.

Greenlight TV will film the NGK Spark Plugs Formula One Powerboat Championship racing action all season long, producing a 30-minute show of each event to air on CBS Sports Network. “Thunder on the Neches” will air on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at 6:30 pm ET. Fans can also watch the shows on Motor Trend On Demand for a minimal fee. To view the shows on-demand, visit: https://www.motortrendondemand.com/show/us-f1-powerboats-championship-/73231972/.

Live-Streamed racing action will again be produced by Greenlight TV to air “Live” during the race weekend on the NGK Series and NGK’s facebook pages. Visit the NGK Formula One Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/NGKF1PowerboatChampionship.

The NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship is grateful to have the strong support and commitment from their long-time title sponsor, the prestigious NGK Spark Plugs. Since 1936, NGK Spark Plugs has been the world leader in technology, innovation, and world-class quality in the design of spark plugs and oxygen sensors. Today, NGK manufactures NGK Spark Plugs and NTK Oxygen Sensors for virtually every automotive manufacturer in the world.

NGK has built a reputation for quality and reliability, and a commitment to excellence continues to be the driving force behind the company’s advanced research and development programs. In North America, NGK is headquartered in Wixom, MI and maintains manufacturing, inventory, and distribution facilities in Irvine, CA, Sissonville, WV, and Chicago, IL.

 

Get more information on the exciting NGK Spark Plugs Formula One Powerboat Championship by following NGK F1 Powerboat Championship on Facebook.