Toxic Rocket Torn Up
	Photo By RAP :: Race Action Photography

Toxic Rocket may have looked no different to most, but the Toxic Rocket that waited on the ropes, Friday afternoon, at the 2009 IHBA Lakefest Opener was about to make a virgin pass.

The new 22 foot carbon fiber boat was 800 pounds lighter than the old Toxic Rocket. The Ellison Outrigger boat took months to design and build, and the team dedicated every moment of the two weeks prior to the race to finishing the boat.

Before Toxic passed the finish line both back portions of the sponsons were blown out and the rear section of the front right sponson boat had a 6x12 gaping hole causing it to fill up with water.

The damage to the boat was not repairable at the track resulting in the toxic team packing up and leaving Friday night.

Joe Dutra a race veteran stated, "In my 27 years in this sport this was an amazing sight to see a boat not just coming apart without anyone realizing it including the driver, But...also a wild hair raising ride!! & On top of all this...The boat stayed in it's own lane and hauled azz down the track!!"

Ellison was devasted and visually upset. Ellison, well known for its excellance in hull designing, had contracted with a reputable third party to build sponson that could bear the load, yet the sponsons were the weak link in the chain.

Despite massive damage to the boat, including a split down the center and a major break in the hull on the right side just below the capsule lid, Wilson maneuvered the torn up boat to a safe stop. The 217 mph pass (5.10 et) was slow in comparison to what Toxic could have accomplished had the boat stayed race worthy.

Rescue stated, "They are lucky the boat didn't fold in half."

On Thursday we asked Joe Cassidy how long it would take, workwise to put the 2008 Toxic Rocket model back on the track. Joe estimated it would take a minimum of 5 days.

The Toxic team is tight and and their goals are strong they came to the race anticipting another win, a win that will have to be put on hold until the June Chowchilla race.

This was a huge build up for a big let down and no one is feeling it more than the Toxic team. Alot of the guys volunteered an enormous amount of time and effort, while Joe Cassidy has invested a huge amount of money, time and effort. Wilson despite freshly removed mutilple stiches from a recent intense surgery, not related to racing, was not going to let that stop him from racing at this event.

The loves of Wilsons life are his dog Nitro, and the Toxic Rocket Team, including the boat - Toxic Rocket (yes unbelievably, Wilson is divorced and single and yes a great catch). Wilson is also a great driver and Joe Cassidy is a winner that never gives up. RAP predicts Toxic Rocket will be one of the fastest top fuelers this season.