Sunday, Jul. 27, 2008

Penalties give Sadlon win in Lights B main, trip to final

By Jody Moore, hydroracing.commentator

Mike Sadlon played a sure and steady game, drawing several competitors into jumping the gun, and cruised to victory in the Unlimited Lights B main.

Sadlon’s UL-89 Lake Trash Apparel was a lock into the final heat with an apparent fourth-place finish, but they advanced to first place because one-minute penalties were assessed to three other boats — Terry Troxell in the UL-8 Numerica Credit Union, Michael Flaherty in the UL-11 Executif and Charles Xaudaro in the UL-98 Atomic Screen Printing.

The penalties gave Joe Souza in the Rouly Heat Exchangers/Napa Auto Parts second place and another coveted berth in the final.

Troxell and Flaherty finished third and fourth for the remaining two spots in the final lineup, while Xaudaro — who led the first lap of the race and looked to be in a commanding position until fading late — finished fifth and was bumped from the final race.

Al Carstensen took the UL-6 Gresham Well Drilling back to the dock after the second lap, and Brian Richards’ UL-4 went dead a few moments later.

The top four finishers will join the top four point-getters in the final heat, which has been bumped back five minutes to 4:35 p.m.