Racing

Bracket-Class Racers Inducted Into 2019 APBA Hall of Champions

ByMatt Trulio January 8, 2020January 30, 2022

Though they don’t get the glory of their bigger-boat, marquee-class counterparts, no group of racers works and battles harder than than those in the bracket classes. But that doesn’t mean they go completely unrecognized or unappreciated, which is why the American Power Boat Association has a bracket-class racer honor in its Hall of Champions. For APBA’s Hall of Champions Class of 2019, that honor is going to Francis Vellutato, Jr., and Michael McColgan of the Rum Runners/NuWave Class 6 team.

Taking second place overall in the inaugural American Power Boat Association Offshore Championship Series and earning the Class 6 National Championship during its first full season has landed Francis Vellutato, Jr., and Michael McColgan in the APBA Hall of Champions (click image to enlarge). Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

In 2019, Vellutato and McColgan took second place overall out of 11 Class 6 teams in the six-race American Power Boat Association Offshore Championship Series produced by the Offshore Powerboat Association and Powerboat P1. They ran every race of the 2019 OPA regular season including those outside the APBA series and won the OPA Class 6 national title and competed in the organization’s world championships in Englewood Beach, Fla.

That 2019 was their first full season made their racing achievements particularly noteworthy, as is their selection to the APBA Hall of Champions. The induction ceremony is set for January 25 in Seattle during the organization’s annual meeting.

Bracket-Class Racers Inducted Into 2019 APBA Hall of Champions

Address

Quick Links