Southern Drag Boat Association Season Opener Qualifying
By JM Hallas
Marble Falls, TX – Time to let the spray fly. After a Thursday meet and greet at Putter & Gutters, Friday show and shine, it was time for the 
Southern Drag Boat Association season opener on the “liquid quarter mile”.
Despite an iffy forecast, the rain stayed well away from the course and the wind cooperated for the most part with only a couple stoppages for unsafe water conditions.
It was a safe day on the track with the only causalities being parts and pieces, though some were internal. Speaking of pieces, it was mentioned the Kebin Kinsley’s Top Fuel Hydro arrived at the track in pieces with the crew thrashing on it through Friday and Saturday, but not done in time to make a qualifying pass.
Here’s a quick review of the 2021 SDBA points champions to see how they fare during the beginning of 2022 campaign.
Mike Robbins(Top Fuel Hydro), Marty Logan(Top Alcohol Hydro), Bill Diez(Top Alcohol Flat), GW Goff(Pro Competition Flat), Eric Dement(Pro Outlaw), Daryl Erlich(Pro Modified), Tim Ortiz(Pro Jet), Dave Lipinsjki(Pro Eliminator), Ken Jenkins(Quick Eliminator), Jerry Branum(Top Eliminator), Jesse James jr.(Modified Eliminator), Seth Walls(Stock Eliminator) and Jody Smith(Personal Water Craft).
The only one of last years class champions to actually earn a top qualifying spot was the Stock Eliminator boat of Seth Walls. Mike Robbins and Marty Logan were the only boats to run in their respective classes for easy number 1 spots.
SDBA/Lakefest 2022 Pro Qualifying after three rounds;
Top Fuel Hydro
Mike Robbins(Nitro Nuts), 3.302 @ 212.042
Kebin Kinsley(Liquid Voodoo) DNT
Top Alcohol Hydro
Marty Logan(Livin tha Dream) 4.420 @ 200.976
Top Alcohol Flat
Marcus Kinsey(Bad Company) 5.586 @ 146.091
Pro Outlaw(5.20)
Cody Childress(Bad Influence) 5.235 @ 175.743
Bill Wier(Alkahaulic Behavior) 6.633 @ 88.483
Gus Ward(Whisky Tango Foxtrot) 7.684 @ 65.308
Rick Blethroade(Wild Thing) 5.084 @ 179.447(BO)
Steve Carter(Money For Nuthin’) 5.097 @ 180.559(BO)
Pro Modified(5.60)
Mallori Carroll(A Little More Therapy) 5.621 @ 159.034
Greg Lempar(Anger Management) 5.649 @ 169.265
Henry Boehne(Dont Blink) 5.687 @ 153.148
Daryl Erlich(Outta Reach) 5.755 @ 153.525
Jay Hudgins(Aquaholic) 5.870 @ 149.318
Lee Warren(Say When) 5.898 @ 130.241
Mickey Snider(Top Gun) 6.257 @ 144.093
Steve Walls(Shaken Not Stirred) 6.331 @ 136.503
Terry Kain(Racing Kain) 6.379 @ 128.048
Robin Reed(Wound 2 Tight) 5.565 @ 159.284(BO)
Pro Jet
Pat Hobbs(Manufactured Money) 4.698 @ 131.100
Robert Ledbetter(The Honey Badger) 4.902 @ 137.162
Pro Competition Flat(Dial in)
Jeff Leuhring(Nasty Rumors) 6.202 @ 134.747
Tim Ortiz(Never Satisfied) 7.014 @ 118.195
Larry Skero(Flat Nasty) 6.242 @ 133.841
Cole Henrich(Flat Attack) 7.117 @ 117.189
Frank Carter(Flat Flyin’) 6.106 @ 130.251
Dylan Crownover(Bad Company Too) 6.611 @ 129.289
Kevin Hibdon(Visual Noise) 7.583 @ 117.695
Vic Fugate(Flat Blacked Out) 7.620 @ 113.908
Sportsman Class Top Qualifiers;
Quick Eliminator(6.00)
Robert Anderson(Mutual Funds) 6.024 @ 128.677
Pro Eliminator(6.50)
Gavin Snider(6 to Midnight) 6.525 @ 137.503
Top Eliminator(7.00)
Matt Miller(Miller Time) 7.026 @ 107.688
Modified Eliminator(8.00)
Seth Walls(Happy Hour) 8.010 @ 106.785
Stock Eliminator(Dial in)
Justin Stuard(Wingman) 9.325 @ 94.382
Personal Water Craft(Dial in)
Brandon Lempar(Megladon) 14.025 @ 51.426
