Driver/owner Chuck Broaddus and throttleman/team manager Grant Bruggemann earned their first win of the 2014 season in Broadco, a 40-foot Marine Technology Inc., catamaran earlier during the Offshore Powerboat Association event on the St. Clair River in Michigan. The boat, which is powered by pair of 750-hp Ilmor Marine/Scopion engines, bested Super Cat-class runner-up Team AMSOIL and third-place finisher Cleveland Construction. (Phoenix Parts also started the race, but was forced to withdraw with mechanical issues.)

Broadco led the Super Cat class wire to wire today during OPA’s St. Clair race. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Heading into St. Clair, the Broadco team had earned two second-place finishes and one third-place finished on the Super Boat International circuit this season. But in mostly smooth conditions on the St. Clair River today, Broadco dominated as the cat jumped out to an early lead—reportedly six seconds after the first lap—that it never relinquished.

“We were on fire today,” said Broaddus. “We picked the right setup. Conditions today were flat with maybe 1-foot of chop, the same way there were yesterday during testing.

“Grant, the crew and everyone did such a great job,” he added.

Next up for the Broadco team is the SBI race in Michigan City, Ind., this coming weekend followed by the OPA event in Port Huron, Michigan, the weekend after that.

Editor’s Note: Look for a complete wrap-up the OPA St. Clair offshore race from correspondent Mike Yowaiski on speedonthewater.com tomorrow.

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