WHM Motorsports Looking For A Boost In Sarasota

A couple of multi-time offshore racing world champions—most recently in 2018 in Super Boat International’s Superboat class—the WHM Motorsports team’s driver/owner Billy Mauff and throttleman Jay Muller have had a challenging run so far in the first two contests of the six-race APBA Offshore Championship Series. They finished in fourth place out of seven Supercat-class teams at the season-opener in Cocoa Beach, Fla., and in third position out of six teams at the Lake Race on the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri.

By their high standards, that qualifies as a rough start.

With points close in the Supercat-class, the WHM Motorsports team is heading into the upcoming Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix with high hopes and fresh horses. Photos courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

With the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix July 7—the halfway of the APBA series season—coming up next week, the veteran cockpit duo is hoping to make a bigger splash in their 40-foot Skater Powerboats catamaran powered by Sterling Performance engines.

“We’re hoping for a good showing in Sarasota,” said Muller, who also will throttle the Pro Stock Vee-class 05 Phase raceboat in the Southwest Florida event. “The points are really close and we need a win to boost the team’s morale.”

To help improve their odds of success, the team will come to Sarasota with fresh Sterling power under the hatches of its 40-footer.

Said Muller, “In this class you have to be on your game every race.” (Photo from the 2019 Lake Race.)

A broken seat for Muller on the parade lap and in-cockpit communication problems didn’t help the WHM Motorsports cause in Cocoa Beach, which saw Pro Floors Racing finish first followed closely by M-Con. Muller said the team experienced no such issues at the Lake Race and was able to stay in contention, but couldn’t overtake AMH Motorsports, which took the checkered flag ahead of second-place finisher Pro Floors Racing.

“Our setup was perfect—our boat is fast in calm water and good in rough water,” said Muller. “In this class you have to be on your game every race. It’s very competitive.”

Muller said that he and Mauff are pleased with the APBA series, which is being produced by the Offshore Powerboat Association and Powerboat P1, so far.

“They’re doing a great job,” he said. “All of the racers are very excited to see where the sport is going.”

WHM Motorsports Looking For A Boost In Sarasota

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