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NAPLES — The Child Speed Naples Grand Prix for the lightning quick stars of the F1 ChampBoat Series may be a first-year event.

Yet the two-day festival that looms Nov. 1-2 at the Sugden Community Park’s Lake Avalon just east of downtown Naples already is on-plane with other prime sporting events throughout the Sunshine State.

Naples Grand Prix organizer Brian Ohlis recently learned that his dream project — the world’s fastest tunnel boat machines will compete — has been selected by the Florida Sports Foundation as one of 16 grant recipients. He said the FSF will contribute $2,000 to the cause this year.

“There are limits placed on first-year events, but we’re still very happy about being included,” Ohlis said. “It definitely helps put our show on the radar with others around Florida.”

Ohlis has quietly been pulling together the various details of staging a powerboat race on Lake Avalon, which he says is the “ideal marine stadium.” With the event just a few weeks away, however, he’s been busy cooking up enthusiasm and financial backing for the inaugural affair.

While the Naples Daily News has agreed to be the presenting sponsor, Ohlis said he would love to land a title sponsor. Child Speed is the charity organization Ohlis has created to help local children in need.

“We’re going to do this event this year regardless, and I know that once Southwest Florida sees what the ChampBoat Series is all about, they are going to go wild over it,” he said “These races really are among some of the best you could ask for.”

Ohlis relates it to “NASCAR on water,” which means that the boats will run a .78-mile, rectangular course on Lake Avalon, reaching speeds of 135 mph. There will be qualifying leading up to the championship races. Each race will begin with a Lemans-style standing start off the lake’s shore.

In all, Ohlis expects about 20 F1 ChampBoats and 20 F2 entries. He also anticipates the participation of four “circle-sprint boats,” which is the type of machine Ohlis himself owns. The action will receive national television exposure via the Speed channel.

Tickets will be $10 for the Saturday action and $20 for the Sunday event. A two-day pass is available for $25.

The Child Speed Naples Grand Prix will be the final event of the 2008 ChampBoat Series. Awards will be handed out at postrace affair at the Cedar Hammock Country Club.

For more information about the event, contact Ohlis at 239-253-0557 or e-mail him at jbohlis@comcast.net.

• • •

What a run it was for the Naples-rooted Germain Racing operation at the Talladega Superspeedway last Saturday.

In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ Mountain Dew 250, Germain’s Todd Bodine scored his second straight Talladega victory in his No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota Tundra and gained some valuable points in the championship standings.

Teammate Mike Wallace, who filled in for Justin Marks in the No. 9 Geico Tundra, finished fifth.

In one of the closest points chases the NCTS drivers have ever seen, Bodine moved up to fourth. Ron Hornday is the leader with 3,027, followed by Johnny Benson (2,988) and Matt Crafton (2,809). Bodine has 2,791, just 20 more than fifth-place Erik Darnell.

Marks and Chrissy Wallace, Mike Wallace’s daughter, ran the ARCA/REMAX Series event. Chrissy Wallace got her best finish yet, taking ninth in the Germain Racing Toyota after starting 27th. Marks started eighth, but ended up 32nd.

• • •

Stock car racing fans at the Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda will be treated to the Checkered Flag Sprint Cars on Saturday night. Also racing will be the T.Q. Midgets, Dwarf Cars, Road Warriors, Thunder Trucks, Pro 4, Fab 4 and Florida Suncoast Outlaw Street Stocks.

Track officials are gearing up for an even bigger show set for Oct. 18. That’s the night the ASA Series for late models makes a visit to the 3/8-mile, paved oval. The track is located off I-75 Exit 161 (Jones Loop Road). It is south of the Charlotte County Airport.

Naples’ Tom Pryor was among the feature winners this past Saturday night. A recap of top finishers follows:

•Thunder Trucks — 1. Tom Pryor, 2. Randy Kile, 3. Chuck Stevens.

•DeSoto Champ Carts — 1. Brian Sherrer, 2. Phil Harp, 3. Tim Simmons.

•Outlaw Street Stock — 1. Donnie Olie Jr., 2. Richie Sheppard, 3. Austin Craig.

•Road Warriors — 1. Jeff Firestine, 2. Chris Scott, 3. Don Jericka.

•Sportsman — 2. Steve Gainey, 2. L.J. Grimm, 3. Ryan Pancoast.

•Open Wheels — 1. Doug Moff, 2. Scott Kleiberk, 3. Wayne Jefferson.

•Figure 8 Races — 1. Jeff Firestone, 2. Derrick Horton, 3. Chester Lusk.

E-mail Tom Rife at heart22@comcast.net. His local racing column appears Fridays.