Tri-Cities native dives into ‘thrilling’ sport of hydroplane racing, buying 2 teams

Darrell Strong, the owner of Strong Racing, reached out to Bruce Ratchford right after the latter saw his team win the Indiana Governors Cup on July 6.

“I texted Bruce,” said Strong. “I think we’re the only two owners who ever won our first race. I said, ‘Welcome to the club.’”

It was Ratchford — a Kennewick native who sponsored two races and a boat last season for the first time — who decided to dive in as an owner this past offseason.

Ratchford purchased the assets of the Miss Madison Racing, Inc., team, which included two boats, the U-91 Goodman Real Estate, and the team’s backup boat.

In addition, Ratchford bought Charley Wiggins’ U-27 Apollo Racing boat. That gave Ratchford a stable of two boats and teams, with one backup boat.

And BWR Racing was born.

With the Guntersville opener being blown out by storms and wind in June, Ratchford finally got a chance to see his team be competitive in Madison.

Ratchford has a star in driver Andrew Tate. He has a wily veteran in driver Dave Villwock — the winningest driver in unlimited hydroplane racing history.

And he has a brilliant crew chief in Mike Hanson.

“I call Mike Hanson Mr. Wizard,” said Ratchford.

It was Tate who pulled away from the field in the Madison final earlier this month to win in the U-91.

“That first win, it’s thrilling,” said Ratchford. “I bought a really good race team. I felt they worked really hard the whole time that weekend.”

Boat racing enthusiast

Like Pasco native Strong, Ratchford grew up around the hydroplane races here in the Tri-Cities.

In 1981, Ratchford founded Apollo Sheet Metal, which became a multimillion dollar business over the years, with offices dotted around the country.

The company expanded and is now called Apollo Mechanical Contractors, of which Ratchford is chief executive officer.

Apollo and Ratchford have always been a great supporter of community events, and that includes hydroplane racing in the Tri-Cities.

“I never missed a boat race in the Tri-Cities,” said Ratchford. “I might have missed one maybe six or seven years ago when we went to our cabin. But me and Lampson (International) have always had (special sections) right next to each other here.”

Strong said it took a wily old racing veteran from Kirkland to attract Ratchford into sponsoring races and events.

“Steve Lamson called Bruce 50 to 60 times last year, and he got him to sponsor two races and a boat,” said Strong.

Ratchford sponsored the U-27.

“I signed a three-year deal to sponsor the Tri-Cities race, and three years for Seattle,” Ratchford said.

This is the second year for both the three-year deals.

But then Ratchford followed a similar pattern that Rob Graham, and then Strong, took.

In 2017, Seattle area resident Graham — a long-time sponsor — decided to purchase the boats and equipment from Ted Porter.

Graham, in an interview a few years ago with the Herald, said he didn’t realize as an owner how many little details have to be take care of. But Graham did find some success, winning some races with J. Michael Kelly as his driver.

Fast forward to Strong, who along with his wife Vanessa, bought two hulls and equipment in 2020, after years of being a team sponsor.

In 23 races since then, a Strong Racing boat has won 13 first-place trophies for an astounding .565 winning percentage. That includes three Gold Cup victories.

Now, Ratchford has joined the club.

Learning as an owner

Both Villwock and Tate have nothing but great things to say about Ratchford, who spends plenty of time around the team and interacting with fans.

“I talked to Bruce a handful of times,” said Tate back in May. “Every time you talk to him, you just get more excited. Each day he’s got great passion.”

Villwock agrees.

“I met Bruce last year and we talked a few times,” said Villwock. “He is just a super duper guy.”

Ratchford is enthusiastic, and he’s made things fun for everyone on BWR Racing.

“It’s really nice to be working with a really talented group of people again,” said Villwock. “This group has some depth, sort of on a Budweiser level. Most of the Miss Madison team is here, but we brought some new people in.”

Ratchford’s company motto at Apollo is “Building people who build great things.”

He’s using that motto into the boat race team too.

“You get this team to compete,” he said. “I mean, let’s face it. When you’re racing against Dave Villwock, you’re in for a race. He’s good, and he’s smart. He’s been around.”

Ratchford brings his business skills to the team, but he’s more about getting people together.

“Part of what I do is getting doors opened,” he said. “Talk about Mike Hanson and Dave Villwock. Once they started to communicate, they can accomplish a lot. It took a good while, but Mike and Dave truly respect each other. I’m always trying to put people who have something to offer together.”

And Ratchford gives them their space to do their work.

“I talk only about getting along,” he said. “But I also want to look at things. I want to know what does the data say? I really love the mechanical stuff. But man, these guys have been here doing this so much for so long. You listen, and you also have good questions for them.”

Teaming with Strong

On March 4, H1 Unlimited announced the Ratchford joined Strong as a partner in Hydrotown Racing, Inc.

It’s a private company formed to promote and marketing unlimited hydroplane racing.

“I think we’ve really improved the media situation,” said Strong. “We’ve had a few live transmission problems, but it’s getting better. By last Tuesday, we had 82,000 views. As it improves, that turns into national sponsors.”

The two owners have gotten to know each other pretty well over the last year.

“When we go racing on the weekend, racing time is racing time,” said Ratchford. “I will complain about a referee’s call if I don’t agree with it. That’s fine.”

Strong agrees.

“We compete on race day, but in a good way. We want to beat each other. We feel that competitive spirit,” he said. “But what’s great is I don’t think we’ve had four or five boats at race that could win until now.”

The key after this season will be getting more boats in the fleet, and more race sites.

Guntersville, Ala., race officials recently announced that they were done hosting an event after weather has pretty much hampered them the last three years.

That leaves four races, tentatively, for 2026.

But Strong and Ratchford are working behind the scenes to improve that number.

“We’re talking to four other race sites,” said Strong. “They’re all in the Midwest. Each site needs a solid base of volunteers. I would like eight race sites again. I think that’s all we could handle.”

Ratchford added, “Tahoe wants us to come back. We’ve got to get some local people on board. But the docks are still there.”

Ratchford wants some input too.

“I want this sport to be for everybody,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re all on the same team. I want team members to have more input to the sport. Ask them, ‘Where do you want to race?’ So there is a sense of teamwork.

“And this sport needs good, quality boats. Boats that race competitively.”

But first things first.

This weekend it’s about winning the Apollo Gold Cup.

“This is the favorite course for a lot of people,” said Strong, whose driver, Corey Peabody, has won here the last three times he’s competed. “God made this course for a race. And for Corey, this course seems to fit him really well.”

Ratchford agrees.

“This right here is the best water to run on,” he said. “This is Corey Peabody’s piece of water. But I plan to come out swinging this weekend.”