Terry Rinker of Tampa, FL, piloted his iHeart Radio/Rinker Racing-sponsored Formula One Lee Aero Slot hull in conquering the turbulent waters of the Saginaw River and earned a well-deserved victory. But not just any victory—this was Terry’s seventh championship, making Bay City history. The first-place finish breaks the tie of six wins that Rinker held with recently retired Tim Seebold.

It all took place at the 30th Bay City Grand Prix, held June 23-25, 2017, under the sanction of the F1 ChampBoat International Outboard Grand Prix (IOGP) series banner in Bay City, MI.

Rinker took the lead on the hole shot after a second restart of the 30-lap Final Heat race and led to the finish. Heading off a late charge from third-place finisher Greg Foster in his Dillard Financial Solutions-sponsored DAC hull. Chris Fairchild, in his Kroger-sponsored DAC hull, passed Foster in the last remaining laps to claim second place on the podium.

“The current was whipping down the river,” Rinker told Speedboat. “All the waves were rolling up in the turns and making both turns just nasty. We did the low and slow, kept it in light and tight and let the guy outside of me try to get around Foster. He did a lot of skipping and hopping and got it close a couple of times. We held them off. That was the plan.”

Rinker started his Formula One career in 1995. The competition knows that he is still the man to beat.

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