Photo courtesy of speedonthewater.com
This past weekend’s Thunder on Cocoa Beach race was nothing short of impressive. Our co-owner, Johnny Tomlinson, left his mark in two different classes: Class 1 and 450R Factory Stock. In the Class 1 race, Tomlinson partnered with driver Carlos De Quesada, and together they piloted the 50-foot Victory catamaran to a respectable 3rd place finish.
This opened the door for Lilly, who dove inside Team DeFalco, shortening his line around the course. Huski Ice Spritz passed 222 Offshore Australia to claim the checkered flag. Nicholson and Carpitella held on for second followed by throttleman John Tomlinson and driver Carlos de Quesada in the 50-foot Victory, Pothole Heroes.
Huski Ice Spritz passed 222 Offshore and took the checkered flag followed by the disappointed team from down under and Pothole Heroes. For the crew of the third-place boat, Tomlinson simply said, “That was all we had.”
Photo courtesy of speedonthewater.com
During the 450R Factory Stock class race, Tomlinson faced the challenge with assistance from crew chief Milton Calafell, due to driver Taylor Scism, not being in attendance. The two were able to put up an impressive effort despite the change in driver and came in 2nd place in the 450R Factory Stock class race!
Those who have participated in and/or followed offshore racing have heard countless times, “Your first need to finish to finish first” or some version of the annoying motto. The 222 Offshore Australia team wasn’t the only one forced to swallow a bitter pill on the last lap. Tomlinson and driver Milton Calafell had the fleet covered in the Factory Stock 450R class in their 39-foot MTI, TS Motorsports, until the last turn of the last lap when a water hose blew off one of the outboards’ powerhead, filling the cowling with water and shutting down the engine.
After Saturday’s outstanding Super Stock race and Class 1 qualifying whetted the appetites of the fans lining the Cocoa Beach shoreline, Sunday’s four races involving 34 boats in seven classes delivered a satisfying main course. The weekend saw only one incident on a course that was, as livestream announcer Mike Yowaiski described, “historically calm for Cocoa Beach.”
It was great getting to see Tomlinson out on the water and watch all of our supporters and more come out to show their enthusiasm for the sport. We look forward to more impressive work from him and what else is in store for the TNT Custom Marine family in the future!
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Original article published on speedonthewater.com
