It was an action packed weekend at the APBA GMC Pro Grade Series event. World Speed records were blasted away as a record turnout of raceboats and fans flooded the historic town of Washington on the Pamlico River in Beaufort County, North Carolina.

On Saturday, Reggie Fountain shattered the unlimited V-bottom record with an incredible 171mph average. On Sunday, Reggie Fountain III and Mike Seebold in the #98 Rodriguez Group team took first place in Super Vee. Joe Pattis Seafood driven by Vern Gilbert, also running the Weismann drives, took second place in Superboat Vee. The #7 Lucas Oil Scarab, plagued with overheating problems, came home with a fifth place.

"After seizing the last wins, this comes as a bitter disappointment, especially in front of our friends in the U.S. ARMY," said Nigel Hook, Captain of the #7 Lucas Oil Scarab team. For this race the team had joined forces with U.S. ARMY for mutual benefit — the Lucas Oil team helping the United States Army to meet its goal of 77,000 new active-duty recruits for the 2004 fiscal year, and the Army giving advice on ways to optimize checklist operations.

Private Josh Brock and Staff Sergeant John V. Martin, U.S. Army Recruiting Station Commander, were on loan to the Lucas Oil team for the weekend and served as honorary team members. As Sergeant John V. Martin remarked, "There are many parallels between running a race team and my former position as a M1 Tank Commander. The preparation for combat and the preparation for racing require the same disciplines and operate using similar checklists."

"It was a tremendous honor to be accompanied by these two fine Soldiers," said Hook. "They fit right in, and were always there when we needed a hand, from Friday morning until after the race on Sunday." The two were joined on both Saturday and Sunday by 30 to 40 of their fellow Soldiers, led by Captain Ted Bryant, who was there with Sergeant Kelly Davis in full uniform to help with recruiting duties.

On display was a show car Hum Vee from the High Speed Battalion, which was set up next to the #7 Lucas Oil Scarab. "It was great, they let me ride in the Black and Gold Hum Vee, which led the procession in front of the raceboat during the big parade through town on Friday evening. Thousands of people turned out and it seemed the teenagers gave more even cheers to the U.S. ARMY HumVee than the raceboats!" Hook went on to say.

This race will be featured on OLN (Outdoor Life Network) on Sunday, October 3rd at 5:00pm.

The next race for the #7 Lucas Oil Team will be August 15 in Grand Haven, Michigan. "Our race shop is in Michigan and we test on Lake Michigan where the ambient water is cooler by at least 20 degrees. Next week we'll be recalibrating the cooling system so we are ready the following week for the warmer waters down South," commented Nick Pavlichek. (Read the current issue of Truck Trend Magazine, Page 48-52, to see what Nick "truuck" Pavlichek does in his spare time. Nick's company stretches and customizes trucks. The Ford F350 that they built for Bully Dog won top honors for Ford at the SEMA show last year and is featured in this issue of the magazine).