ADBA MARCH MAYHEM

story and photography by Mark McLaughlin

QUICK ELIMINATOR: Winner Vince Nelson Jr. launches his QE machine off the starting line en route to a huge win over other competitors in the class. Meanwhile, his dad won the Top Eliminator trophy (see Page 73).

PRO OUTLAW: Rick Barretta went through the weekend as the #1 qualifier and the winner in the class.

ADBAMarch Mayhem

The Arizona Drag Boat Association’s March Mayhem event unfolded at Hidden Lake in Buckeye, AZ. Beginning in 2017, Buckeye has become one of the fastestgrowing cities in the country, partially on the strength of this privately owned lake off the beaten path on the outskirts of town. As the newest drag boat racing facility, Hidden Lake seems to be a spectator friendly course (except for the heat index during the summer months).

One of the coolest parts of March Mayhem was seeing both a father and a son win races in two different classes. Vince Nelson Sr. grabbed the win in the Top Eliminator class over nine other racers, while son Vince Nelson Jr. took his Quick Eliminator machine to a huge win over other competitors in the class.

Meanwhile, Blown Gas Flats—which had come out in full force at the February race, were a little shy on competitors for this March Mayhem. Jerry Yerex made one qualifying attempt on Saturday; then, come Sunday morning, took his trophy pass and turned it into a tribute to one of our fallen racers, Tanya Shapen. Yerex fired and idled down the track with his hand pointing to Tanya looking down on us. Yerex would also take home the first-place trophy.

BLOWN GAS FLAT: Jerry Yerex made one qualifying attempt on Saturday and then come Sunday morning, he took his trophy pass and turned it into a tribute to one of our fallen racers, Tanya Shapen. Yerex fired and idled down the track with his hand pointing to Tanya looking down on us. He would also take home the first-place trophy.

MOD ELIMINATOR: With an eight-boat field, the odds of one of the Scribner girls making the finals was pretty high. Sure enough, Tanya Scribner (far lane) took down Richard Young (near lane) in his blue jetboat in the finals for her trophy.

PRO ELIMINATOR: What a side-by-side race this was! A photo finish in PE placed Mike Beierle (near lane) ahead of Stan Tweedy (far lane) by inches for the win.

STOCK ELIMINATOR: This was the largest field in any class during this March weekend. A 13-boat field ended up with the winner taking over the points lead in the class. Sean Mardersian went all the way for the win after taking second place the first race of the year.

RIVER RACER: The always-comical Rob Miller looks over to see where his competition is in the final round of the RR class. Nine boats started the weekend, and Rob ended up on top.

TOP ELIMINATOR: Vince Nelson Sr. took the win in TE class over nine other racers. “This was a first for me—watching a father and son winning on the same weekend in two different classes,” notes photographer Mark McLaughlin. “How awesome is that?”