Carrabba's Team Blythe Takes the Checkered Flag in Daytona
On Saturday April 27th Team Blythe was the first to cross the finish line in Daytona Beach in this years APBA Class 5 division. The skies were sunny and the water was choppy but driver Todd Blythe and throttle man Bob Geoghegan managed to edge out it's competitors to take home the checkered flag in this seasons opening race. With this win things are looking very good for Team Blythe in 2002. | 
Photo Courtesy of News Journal / Sports Section Daytona Beach
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 The Daytona Harley Davidson Offshore Grand Prix was the first in the 2002 APBA offshore racing season. The dry pits for this event were located in the infield of the most famous race track in the US, the Daytona International Speedway. Team Blythe drove from Bucks County, PA and set up a tent with tee shirts and drinks. Also on hand was a team from Scanmaster, one of Team Blythe's sponsors, also from Bucks County, PA. Scanmaster is proud to be the webmaster for this site and was on hand in the dry pits with free tee shirts for all.
 Team Blythe's boat left the dry pits in time for the dinner crowd at Carrabba's Italian Grille, Team Blythe's main corporate sponsor. The boat could be seen by passerby's on the highway as well as hungry patrons waiting for some fine Italian food.
The wet pits were located in New Smyrna beach, a couple miles down the beach from Daytona. The crowd gathered on the pier and also in the VIP tent located on top of the pier's restaurant. The VIP tent was a buzz when Back Street Boy, Nick Carter and his entourage arrived to watch the races. Nick was on hand to promote his new boat and to sing the National Anthem for the crowd. From the pier a loud thunderous roar could be heard to the right. It was the race boats everyone had been looking to spot. They raced past the pier and the excitement grew as these high performance machines sped around the course. Nick Carter then sang the National Anthem for the crowd in the VIP tent, as well as the crowds gathering on the pier and surrounding beach. The green flag was waved and the race began. The crowds cheered as the race boats passed by again but this time with choppers soaring just above them. Forty minutes and fifty seconds later P5-14, Team Blythe, came across the finish line first a full half minute in front of it's competition. After finishing Todd said, "It's been a long haul to get to this point. We are very proud of our crew and the support of our families, fans and espically, John Tinstman, the owner of Carrabba's Daytona Beach, for being such a great host to the crew."
Here is the race boat outside Carrabba's Italian Grille, just across the street from the world famous Daytona International Speedway. |
Here is John Tinstman, the owner of Carrabba's in Daytona Beach along with his manager checking out the boat. |
Owner, Driver Todd Blythe and Throttleman Bob Geogheganm stop at the boat outside Carrabba's before they grab a bite to eat. |
Boats along side trailing rigs line up for fans to come and visit. |
Inside the Speedway at the dry pits. |
On the speedway Todd poses for a photo. |
Team Blythe's towing rig inside the dry pits, with Lake George in the background. |
Here is Team Blythe's dry pit. |
Carrabba's Team Blythe doing a fast lap around Daytona Speedway. |
Team Blythe hanging out with Team High Priority. Little does High Priority know but they are in for some ... kicking this season courtesy of Team Blythe. |
Inside Daytona International Speedway |
A look at just some of the stadium seating located at the speedway. |
A look at the actual speedway from the infield. |
Todd Blythe getting ready to take the race boat to the wet docks! |
Here is Kim from Scanmaster manning the tent at the dry pits located in the infield of Daytona Speedway. |
Parked a little further down in the dry pits is the Nick Carter Racing boat. |
Todd takes a look at Nick's boat. |
Members of Team Scanmaster wait anxiously in the VIP tent for Todd and Bob to race by in the Carrabba's Team Blythe boat. |
Nick Carter from Nick Carter Racing (and the Back Street Boys) arrives at the VIP tent on race day. |
Viv, member of Team Scanmaster, meets Nick Carter in the VIP tent before the race. |
Team Scanmaster from left to right, Max, Viv and Kim, pose for a shot while waiting for the race to begin. |
Nick and others hear a roar in the ocean.
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And here come the power boats racing along the shoreline! |
That's Carrabba's Team Blythe coming in close to the pier. |
"Oh, say can you see..." |
Nick Carter sings the Star Spangled Banner. |
The race begins with a thunderous roar heard coming from the ocean as the powerboats sped by. |
Spectators from the pier got up close as the boats race. |
Photo Courtesy of APBA Winners, Todd and Bob are happy to wave the checkered flag for Carrabba's Team Blythe.
Now onto Cape Cod, Mass. for Carrabba's Team Blythe's second race this season.
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