Ackermans hunt top spot in SJ spritn boat finale

Running through his best season on the sprint boat circuit since bringing out his new Two Pump Chump, Colfax racer Scott Ackerman will try and take over the lead in season standings this Saturday at Webb’s Slough in St. John.

“I can make it up in one race easily,” said Ackerman. “All we have to do is finish the race, and do it ahead of the little blue boat.”

The United States Sprint Boat Association returns to Webb’s Slough at St. John Saturday for the second time in the circuit’s seven-stop slate of races.

The Two Pump Chump team of Scott and Lori Ackerman enters the race just 38 points behind the Jolly Rogers boat of points leader Eric Werner and his navigator Jana Horton in the Super Modified class.

Ackerman has stayed in the season points chase by racking up a series of second place finishes in the first race at St. John as well as both races at East Wentachee. The chump team also booked a third place finish at Albany.

Ackerman said he wants to give the hometown crowd a little something extra to cheer for as he chases down the points lead.

“I haven’t won here yet,” Ackerman said of the Slough. “But I’m going all-in for it this weekend.”

He expects track owner Matt Webb will design some tricky routes around the narrow-channeled course to please the national camera crews that will be covering Saturday’s races.

Saturday’s race will wrap up a fifth season of sprint boat action at St. John.

The crew at the slough is hoping to attract 5,000 fans and 500 campers to mark the end of season five.

Weekend events kick off with a golf scramble at the St. John Country Club Friday afternoon and the Friday night Show and Shine along Front Street.

Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday with qualifying runs beginning at 10 a.m.