Despite weather, boat races deemed a success

Deep South Racing Association’s “Battle on the Basin” boat races had to overcome rain Saturday afternoon, but Mother Nature enabled them to catch up and get their full slate of racing complete Sunday.
According to Jed Angelle, Deep South Racing Association president/owner, the event, the finale of DSRA’s six-event series each year, was “awesome.”
Angelle said Saturday about half the racing was completed in the morning before it was delayed in the afternoon due to thunderstorms.
However, after waiting things out, racing resumed and action was complete in seven of eight classes, minus the Outlaw class.
“Sunday, Mother Nature took care of us,” Angelle said.
Angelle said event organizers were able to get both days of Outlaw class racing in as well as the other class racing that needed to be complete Sunday.
He noted they were “fortunate” to get their entire event complete.
Angelle commended the job of the City of Morgan City and the Morgan City Volunteer Fire Department this weekend.
“Overall, we were estatic,” Angelle said. “The (Morgan City) Volunteer Fire Department and the whole City of Morgan City worked above and beyond to make us feel at home. We couldn’t ask for a better venue.”
Highlights from the racing included an outlaw class boat raced by Eric Keiser of Bossier City, who has one of the lightest boats Angelle said he has seen.
In the Super Comp division, there also was a lot of action.
“We had more photo finishes than I think we had in years,” Angelle said. “(It) made it very exciting for the class.”
Angelle placed second in the Super Comp division, while Todd Catrett of Stephensville won the division.
Other area placers were B.J. Reulet of Morgan City and Scott Alleman of Pierre Part, who finished first and second, respectively, in Performance Bass & Ski.
Randy Joubert of Berwick won the Pro Stock class, while Jay Aucoin of Stephensville placed second in Super Stock.
In addition to the racing, on Saturday evening, a banquet was held where points championships were awarded to those who already had clinched their marks.
The others were won on Sunday.
During Saturday evening’s event, a service was held in memory of Marvin Catrett, who passed away recently. Angelle said Catrett was key in getting the “Battle on the Basin” races to Morgan City.
His family was presented the Gaylen Burdin Award in Catrett’s honor during the banquet.
The award recognizes someone who helps the organization outside of racing, Angelle said.
“Sometimes it’s a racer, sometimes it’s just someone that goes above and beyond in the sportsmanship and promoting our sport,” he said of the receipients of the award.
Also, decals in Catrett’s memory adorned all of the boats at the event.
Todd Catrett, Marvin Catrett’s son, said it “meant a lot” to win the Super Comp division in light of his father’s death.
“It was emotional, and I worked hard for it the weeks before,” Catrett said.
Catrett, who has won four points championships with this weekend’s victory, agreed that this weekend’s victory meant more than any other due to the circumstances surrounding this year’s event.
He said it was even more meaningful than the 12 consecutive first-place finishes he had achieved during the 2012 and 13 seasons.
He said everyone in the racing community at the event is like a family.
“They’re great people,” he said.
Below are the winners in each class:
Performance Bass & Ski
1st: B.J. Reulet, Morgan City
2nd: Scott Alleman, Pierre Part

Lake Racer
1st: Marty Alexie, Katy, Texas
2nd: Nick Chiasson, Chackbay

Super Stock
1st: Blake Melancon, Geismer
2nd: Jay Aucoin, Stephensville

Super Comp
1st: Todd Catrett, Stephensville
2nd: Jed Angelle, Henderson

1400 Pro Modified
1st: Shawn Jetton, Catahoula
2nd: Paul Gautreaux, Geismer

Pro Stock
1st: Randy Joubert, Berwick
2nd: Steve Glenn, Lake Fork, Texas

Pro Gas
1st: Benji Gullet, Converse
2nd: Pete Elliot, Orange, Texas

Outlaw
1st: Eric Kiser, Bossier City
2nd: Cody Tarver, Orange, Texas