NJBA SEASON OPENER

STOCK ELIMINATOR: Wicked TNT, piloted by Tanya Scribner (above), took home the win in the class. She also received runner-up honors in Modified Eliminator class.

NJBA The National Jet Boat Association was off to a glorious start of the 2021 season as racers gathered at Lake Ming in Bakersfield, CA. Season Opener

National Jet Boat Association competitors got the 2021 season rockin’ with a late-March trip to Lake Ming in Bakersfield, CA.

The weekend started out with a brief session of test and tune, followed by qualifying. During the qualifying session, there were a number of drivers with brand-new boats taking their driver’s licenses. By the end of the qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, each racer had at least two rounds of trying to better his or her qualifying times.

One of the best-attended classes was the 11-boat field of Quick Eliminators. Dan Jensen battled Michael Torgerson for the firstround win; Jensen would go on to take the win in the class, as well as the win in the Pro Comp Hydro class.

Another well-attended class was the 11-boat Blown Gas Flat field, which turned into a nine-boat eliminations field come Sunday. After two racers saw their boats break, the ladder was still pretty stacked. The #4 qualifier, Tony Scarlata (driving for Matt Brown in the Last Call entry) went up against the #5 qualifier, Shane Westerfield, in his Blown’ Smoke machine. Tony ousted Shane in the final for the win.

PRO MOD: Pete Collett came down from Oregon for this race in the other Pro Modified boat. This time, Craig Collett would sit on the sidelines, and Pete was the driver in his Twisted Bounty Hunter machine. He would walk away with the trophy for the Pro Modified class. QUICK ELIMINATOR: In an 11-boat field of QEs, Dan Jensen (above, near lane) pulls away from Michael Torgerson (far lane) for the first-round win. Jensen would go on to take the win in the class, as well as the win in the Pro Comp Hydro class. A “double down” weekend for the winner. At left, the team with their trophies.

MODIFIED ELIMINATOR: The class had 4 boats in the field. Lance Gilbert (above) went into eliminations Sunday morning as the #1 qualifier. He would proceed to take down the field, as well as the Super Eliminator class. At right, proudly showing both trophies.

SUPER ELIMINATOR: Don Blayney, driving in the Super Eliminator class (right), would hold on to the #1 qualifying position up to eliminations. He would go down in defeat, and eventual winner was Lance Gilbert.

TOP ALCOHOL & BLOWN FUEL JET: A stout six-boat field in the Unblown Fuel Jet class had Steve Penberthy (near lane) and Chase Grenke (far lane) dueling it out in round 2. Penberthy in his Just Another Toy competitor took the win and went on to win the title.

TOP ALCOHOL FLAT: Top Alcohol Flat/Top Alcohol Jet class had an interesting final round. Rude Awaking (near lane) with Brian Nelson took home the win with a stellar 5:27 elapsed time. For Bill Diez, qualifying times were legs on the record as he ended up the number-one boat with a time of 5:22.

PRO ELIMINATOR / PRO COMP FLAT: After 10+ years of not running side-by-side in eliminations, cousins Alan and Kelly Asbe (below) faced off against each other. Alan, the victor, took home a pair of trophies this weekend, with a win in the Pro Comp Flat and Pro Eliminator classes. What a treat, seeing these two racing side by side—not once, but twice in the same weekend. At right: Kelly (left) and cousin Alan with Alan’s trophies.

PRO GAS JET: Josh Patridge (above) drove his Lights Out Pro Gas Jet uncontested for the #1 qualifying spot and the win in the class.

PRO OUTLAW: Pro Outlaw driver Harley Ritson (right) took home the win and the trophy in the class. Overall, a good safe weekend. BLOWN GAS FLAT: The 11-boat field turned into a nine-boat eliminations field come Sunday. After two racers’ boats broke, the ladder was still pretty stacked. The #4 qualifier, Tony Scarlata (driving for Matt Brown in the Last Call machine, above) went up against the #5 qualifier, Shane Westerfield in Blown’ Smoke. Tony ousted Shane in the final for the win.