Top Fuel Drag Boat Problem Child Sets World Record during Final Round of IHBA NAPA Auto Parts World Finals

Top Alcohol Driver Joel Webber Hospitalized Following Saturday Crash

GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY – Nov. 22, 2009 – It wasn’t quite the 270 miles-per-hour (mph) they were seeking, but 260.98 mph was certainly fast enough to make Eddie Knox and Daryl Ehrlich happy men following the 2009 International Hot Boat Association (IHBA) NAPA Auto Parts World Finals at Firebird International Raceway Sunday evening.

Knox is the owner and Ehrlich is the driver of the Top Fuel Hydro boat Problem Child.  The duo entered this weekend’s event dreaming of reaching an unheard of 270 mph on Firebird Lake.  Instead, Problem Child hit a blistering top speed of 264.82 miles-per-hour (mph) to beat rival John Haas, driver of the boat Spirit of Texas, during the Top Fuel finals Sunday.

The 264.82 mph also gave Problem Child a new place in the IHBA record books.  In its semi-final round, the boat reached a top speed of 260.98 miles-per-hour – a new world record in the Top Fuel category.  But despite hitting the record speed, Problem Child’s quest for a world record wasn’t done yet.

IHBA rules require that a racing team must “back up” any new speed records.  To do that, if a drag boat sets a record speed during a competition, it must then come back during a subsequent run and record a speed within one-percent to make the record official.  The 264.82 mph run in the Sunday’s final effectively backed up the 260.98 mph run earlier, giving Problem Child the elusive record.

The duo of Knox and Ehrlich had actually reached a speed of over 265 mph during an event in San Diego in September, but ran into problems later in the competition and weren’t able to effectively back-up the record.

“I came here to set a record,” an emotional Knox said following the final round.  “We didn’t get 270, but this is pretty darn sweet.

Update on Driver Joel Webber

Top Alcohol Hydro driver Joel Webber, who crashed the boat “What a Tomato Too” Saturday afternoon during the third round of qualifying, was hospitalized Saturday night, hours after escaping the boat wreckage seemingly unharmed.

Crew chief Mark Kasterns said Webber began feeling ill Saturday evening, and was taken to Chandler Regional Medical Center around 11 pm after he began spitting up blood

Problem Child Sets New World Speed Record

Webber was eventually transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he spent the night in the hospital’s Intensive care unit.  He was scheduled to receive a CT scan on Sunday afternoon.  Webber’s brother, Manny Webber, said preliminary tests showed the driver had suffered some type of bruising or trauma to the lungs.
  
Webber, who was the top qualifier in the class following Friday’s action, crashed on Saturday after he lost control less than midway down the course.  Kasterns said the boat’s rudder “…took a violent right turn at about 170 miles-per-hour.”

Other Sunday Results

Results from Sunday’s other top final round match-ups follow below:

Top Alcohol Hydro: Andy Reynolds (5.59 ET, 212.42 mph) defeated Tom Wright (6.162 ET, 192.16 mph)

Top Alcohol Flat: Tony Scarlata defeated Don Bausher (times and speeds not available)

Pro Modified: Bryan Sanders defeated Vic Esposito (times and speeds not available)

Pro Comp Eliminator: Ray Florez (7.782 ET, 127.98) defeated M. Tolen (8.127 ET, 113.78 mph)