From Ross Wallach of RPM Racing Enterprises: Congratulations to Tom Phan #35, Moreno Valley, CA on capturing the 2011 Long Beach to Catalina & Back presented by Sea-Doo, Sea-Tow, Tom's Truck Center and Dana Point Jet Ski. With almost perfect weather and on a borrowed boat, Tom Phan marched to victory after the two favorites, Craig Warner #71 RSM, CA Monster Energy/Kawasaki and #58 Mark Gerner, Aliso Viejo, CA PwcOffshore.com riders both retired with motor woes. Warner was the early favorite, winning both Round #1 of the Triple Crown of Offshore Racing - Dana Point to Avalon & Back and Round # 2- Dana Point to Oceanside & Back. Gerner was 2nd to Warner in both rounds of the Triple Crown but it was Phan's day as he passed Gerner approximately 1.5 miles from the breakwater on the return to Long Beach and set his sights on his 1st LB2Cat win finishing just shy of the record with a time of 54 minutes 55 seconds. TAD Racing entry Tyler White was hot on Phan's heels but would end up in the 2nd spot overall and 1st in the Pro/Am Class with a time of 55 minutes 10 seconds. Third Place went veteran racer, K.C. Heidler, #7 Irvine, CA Tom's Truck Center entrant who finished a mere 25 seconds behind White. It is of note to all that this years LB2Cat was an international event with two entries from Australia- David Baker, #169 and Warren Leighton #4 who traveled across the pond to compete and say they'll be back next year. Congratulations to Steve Friebe #58, Clovis, CA Clawson's Motorsports sponsored rider on winning the overall title for the 2011 Triple Crown of Offshore Racing! Friebe returned to the racing scene in 2011 after a year off and was a dominant force in offshore endurance racing during all three rounds of the Triple Crown of of Offshore Racing. Ten points behind Friebe was was K.C. Heidler #7 Irvine, CA Tom's Truck Center who took 2nd Place in the 2011 TCO overall standings. K.C. had a tremendous year and looks to be a potential threat for the 2012 TCO. 3rd Place went to the #10 of John Feeney overall in 2011 TCO, 4th Place overall in the 2011 TCO went to Russell Libby, #234. On behalf of RPM Racing Enterprises, we want to thank all staff, volunteers and race teams that participated in the LB2Cat and all three rounds of the Triple Crown of Offshore Racing.
