Every year hundreds of drivers from all around the country compete for the highest honor in all of boat racing, the APBA Hall of Champions. With induction classes ranging from about 15-20 members every year, it truly captures the best of the best in our sport. Out of that induction class, only three drivers are inducted from all of Stock Outboard I am here to give an in-depth analysis of who to expect to see standing at the podium in January of 2020.
The Hall of Champions has a special set of points that ultimately decides who is inducted. In Stock Outboard it is fairly simple, winning a National Championship or a National High Points in either short course or marathon racing will secure you 5 points. Each record set or each Eastern/Western Championship won is worth 2. The Henry Menzies(most points in all classes combined), the Gerald Waldman(most points in a single class) and the Craig Dewald Award(most points in a marathon class) are all worth 1 1/2 points. Finally, a divisional championship with 8 starters will secure you 1 point. The drivers ending the season with the most combined points based off of this scoring system, will be your induction class for the year.
For the sake of time and making sure this article isn't 30,000 words long, we will be discussing drivers who have accomplished more than one item on this list. Last season, Peter Lauer was the third induction with 18 total points, meaning that realistically 6-7 points will not be enough.
Johnny Wlodarski-- Johnny's stranglehold on 15SSH has given him a considerable jump on the field. With a National Championship and a High Points in 15 and breaking the 3/4 BSH record, he is currently sitting at 12 points. He is also in a tight battle with Kyle Bahl for the BSH high points, the Gerald Waldman and the Henry Menzies Awards. Johnny Wlodarski can top out at 20 points for the 2019 season.
Peter Lauer-- Essentially Johnny's runabout counterpart, Peter won the 15SSR Nationals and has a stranglehold on the 15SSR High Points. Having not raced as much as he did last season, Peter is likely tapped out at 10 points.
Nate Mitchell-- Another strong season from Nate has him primed for yet another Hall Of Champions induction. With a National Championship in ASR as well as a Midwest Divisional title, he has all but guaranteed winning the National High Points as well. Nate is also currently involved in the tightest High Points chase in all of Stock Outboard in ASH with Josh Toccolino. If Nate is able to continue his winning ways, he will secure a 2nd High Points title and finish the season with 16 points.
Mikey Pavlick-- Pavlick finished the 2019 season with National Championships in CSH, 20SSH and 300SSH as well as National High Points and Divisional Championships in CSH and 20SSH. He is currently sitting at 27 points.
Kyle Bahl-- Washington's finest is trying to top off his tremendous 2019 campaign with his second induction into the H.O.C. With two divisional championships and two records, Kyle is currently sitting at 6 points. Kyle is also leading high points in 25SSR with Mike Akerstrom right on his trail. He also just needs 2 races to finish off National High Points in BSH. Also in the mix for the Menzies and Waldman awards, Kyle Bahl could potentially end the season with as many as 19 points.
Dean Sutherland-- Dean still has a very outside chance at securing his place in the Hall of Champions. The 2019 CSR Nationals winner is also primed to take home the CSR National High Point title, but has to race five more times and win the majority of his races. Not impossible, but definitely not an easy feat. If he were to secure his High Points title, Dean would finish the season with 10 points.
As the season winds down, it is exciting to see that there is still a lot to be decided! We have six more than capable drivers in a battle for 3 spots, with just one month of the season remaining. Who will close out BSH High Points? Who will win the coveted Gerald Waldman award? Who will be awarded the greatest honor in powerboat racing?
Stay updated at Throttled.us to see who ends up on top!
-MP
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