P1 SuperStock USA National Championship – Livorsi emerges victorious

by P1 SuperStock USA on 20 Sep 2012
During a weekend where P1 national titles were won on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, Team Livorsi finished at the top of the 2012 U.S.A. National Championship podium at the Crystal Coast Grand Prix in Morehead City where driver, Andy Biddle, and throttleman, Tracy Blumenstein, were crowned national champions.

Livorsi finished third at the opening race in St. Cloud, but proceeded to take the checkered flag in Biloxi, Pittsburgh and Detroit, paving the way for a national title in both Biddle and Blumenstein’s rookie season. The first-place crew flipped their boat in the second heat of the Crystal Coast Grand Prix and failed to compete in heats three and four, but the team accumulated enough points throughout the entire season to earn the national championship title and enjoyed a champagne shower at Jack’s Waterfront Bar in celebration of a triumphant 2012 season.

'We did not start the way we wanted to in St. Cloud, but after we got the win in Biloxi, we knew we had a great opportunity to win it all by the time we got to Morehead City,' said Biddle. 'Tracy did a great job throttling for us and I just had to point us in the right direction. There are not many better feelings than standing at the top of that podium and getting drenched with champagne.'

The Pier 57 crew finished second in Morehead City, which secured the second place position overall in the national championship standings. Driver, Eric Treadwell, and throttleman, Steve Gray, were consistent throughout the entire season, but failed to leave a race weekend with a win.

'We are excited to finish second overall in the national championship standings,' said Treadwell. 'We would have loved to finish at the top, but we had a great 2012 experience and we are confident that we can finish first next year.'

Completing the national championship podium was Oregon Custom Marine, who finished third overall. For the second consecutive season, Oregon Custom Marine finished the SuperStock season with a victory, taking the checkered flag at this year’s Crystal Coast Grand Prix.

'We are happy to end the season with a win,' said Tim McDonald, Oregon Custom Marine driver. 'Unfortunately, the win in Morehead City was not enough to earn the national championship title, but we will carry the momentum from the win with us into the offseason and try to get off to a good start in 2013.'

It is the first time that Powerboat P1 has arranged its USA and UK race series to be decided on the same day and created a unique trans-Atlantic link between its two SuperStock championships. The move reflects P1’s expanding position in global powerboat racing with a new SuperStock championships coming on stream in the United Arab Emirates in November to be followed by both China and India in 2013.

P1 SuperStock USA Championship Final Standings:

1. Livorsi (Andrew Biddle/Tracy Blumenstein);
2. Pier 57 (Eric Treadwell/William Stem);
3. Oregon Custom Marine (Tim McDonald/Mike DeFrees);
4. Myco (Elijah Kingery/Bill Kinger);
5. Coors Light (Jeff McCann/Chris Bowers);
6. Miss Vero Beach (Mike Sadlon, Rob Callery);
7. Ocala Gran Prix (John Hansen/Jorge P1 SuperStock website