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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."
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.
Corey Peabody in the U-9 Miss Beacon Plumbing is sandwiched between Andrew Tate in the U-91 Goodman Real Estate and Dave Villwock in the U-27 Miss Apollo as they race to the starting line for Heat 1A Saturday on the Columbia River. Peabody was the winner of the heat.
Entire Article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nh...1&cvid=932330d33eec400a85e7bbcc6729d61a&ei=36
"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."
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.
Corey Peabody in the U-9 Miss Beacon Plumbing is sandwiched between Andrew Tate in the U-91 Goodman Real Estate and Dave Villwock in the U-27 Miss Apollo as they race to the starting line for Heat 1A Saturday on the Columbia River. Peabody was the winner of the heat.
Entire Article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nh...1&cvid=932330d33eec400a85e7bbcc6729d61a&ei=36
