HPROP: APBA: CITGO-SUPERGARD Offshore Racing Team prepared for World Championships

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (November 13, 2000) - All season long Nigel Hook and the CITGO-SUPERGARD Offshore Racing team have anticipated the World Championships in St. Petersburg. They are mentally prepared to go the distance and hope the new engines in the Wellcraft Scarab will help propel them to the winner's circle.

Nigel Hook is probably the most seasoned seaman slated to participate in the World Championships. He stated, "As the tide rolls in to close out the 2000 season, the CITGO team will descend upon St. Petersburg straight from a first place finish in North Carolina. We expect to continue on with that winning streak to complete the year."

Once again, as in earlier this year at Corpus Christi, look for double trouble from CITGO. Spectators will be seeing red ? because in addition to the No. 21 43 foot Scarab piloted by Hook, Jay Johnson and Tony Wiese, there will be another CITGO boat sporting the No. 86. This 37 foot Scarab is a former Worlds winner and will be driven by Dave Rankin. Rankin is a former World Champion and APBA Hall of Champions inductee.

Hook further stated, "What's interesting in St. Pete is that we will be hitting top speed - 142 mph while heading towards the crowd watching from the St. Pete pier. The toughest part of the track will be the turn right in front of all the spectators. This will be the big test for Jay "Big" Johnson as he gets his feet wet once again driving the big Scarab.

"The liquid track on Tampa Bay is very shallow and highly susceptible to wind changes which can blow up the course quickly. The waves can lay down just as fast, so we'll have to stay focused on every stretch on the water."

Tony Wiese stated, "Given the brand new boat and the problems with the roll over in the first race of the 2000 season in San Diego, we had an uphill battle all season long. We made it a goal to end the season on the upswing. It was a very tough battle with the ‘Fountain Flotilla’, but we were up to the challenge and we ended the regular season on a positive note. All of the competitors in Super Vee class are top flight and all pose a threat in Worlds, so there is no room for error."

The CITGO-SUPERGARD Offshore Racing team launches their Scarab for competition on Thursday, November 16, and Sunday November 19, 2000. TNN will air the competition via tape delay on December 2, 2000 at 11:30 a.m. ET. Speedvision will air the World Championships on December 20, 2000 at 10:00 p.m. ET.