Chasin Tails Podcast

New Champs, LS Engine Debut, Flat Bottoms Stealing the Show & Sorel Tracy Cuts It Short | Ep. 89

Episode 89 opens with a celebration: Kyle Hayes just won his first APBA Summer Nationals championship in the two-and-a-half class, calling the title heat against Kevin "the most fun I've ever had in a boat." Austin is back in the seat for the first time this season and had a character-building first ride in a boat set up for the wrong conditions. Bobby joins the pod late, headphone-less, still recovering from one of the more chaotic golf outings in Chase & Tails history — 97 sand bunkers, a stolen sandwich, and a crow don't cover the half of it. From there the crew digs into full class-by-class coverage of both the APBA Summer Nationals in Decatur and the HRL Sorel Tracy regatta. The flat bottoms were a major storyline at Decatur, with JT Britton sweeping the SE, SA, and Pro Stock classes in back-to-back heats, prompting an extended debate about whether it's already time to hand him a Hall of Champions jacket. The LS engine made its first real on-water debut in Dylan Goodell's 2.5 boat — it was legitimately fast, passing three-fifties on a big course, before blowing on an issue the team says they've already identified. The group is bullish on its future and calls for rules to be locked down before the pricing creep hits. The Summer Nationals format debate produces one of the episode's best discussions, with all four hosts agreeing the championship final should be on Sunday rather than Saturday — especially given how early in the season the event falls and how far West Coast teams travel. Sorel Tracy coverage highlights the wave-mitigation barrier system the committee installed — 12 inches above water, 8 feet below — which dramatically improved conditions compared to prior years. The group is effusive in its praise of the committee's investment and effort. The GP class had rough luck with debris in the water taking out a boat on first outing. Weekend standouts: Kyle's championship heat, Kevin Kreitzer's consistency in the 2.5 class, JT Britton's flat bottom sweep, Joe Less finally finding speed in the 350 class, and Nick Roos back and looking sharp in his second weekend back. Bobby's recovery from overdosing on Liquid IV provides the episode's funniest sidebar. The episode closes with a preview of upcoming events: Brockville for GP (Brandon's first booth time back), and Salina Eastern Divisionals where Chase & Tails will be live with upgraded equipment.

Edgewood Was Just the Beginning | Recap + Cambridge Preview EP|86

2026 is underway and we were there. Kyle breaks down the Edgewood season opener live — crowds, racing, boat performances, and what the 755 Alliance pulled off. Then we set our sights on the Cambridge Classic, scrolling through every class entry list and making our picks. We also debut the Chasin Tails Dumper Award, sound off on the APBA/HRL engine ruling, and react to news that the Lupton GP boats are coming back to North America. Strap in — this season is going to be something. 🎙️ Hosts: Brandon, Bobby, Kyle + Austin 📍 Cambridge Classic preview starts at 48:29 🚽 Dumper Award debut at 42:24 🔴 Presented by 25/7 Creative

Season Preview, Edgewood Bound & Stewart Family Smack Talk | Ep. 85

Brandon, Kyle, and Bobby are back for Episode 85 and the 2026 racing season is finally here. The crew kicks things off with a full APBA season preview — going class by class with high points predictions, most improved picks, and a breakdown of the East vs. West Coast points battle. Race director and Skiff racer Jimmie Stewart drops in live to preview the Harford County Spring Nationals at Edgewood, Maryland — teasing a mystery returning element, a Friday night VIP kickoff party, and plenty of family trash talk with his daughters Courtney and Abigail set to go head-to-head in the 721 and 41. The guys also dive into the T-boat class history, the U6 unlimited paint scheme Brandon helped design, and the HRL series structure debate. The episode closes with a fiery take on APBA's decision to split the 350 class at Edgewood — separating APBA and HRL boats — which the crew argues hurts boat count, confuses fans, and presumes illegal intent without inspection. Chase & Tails will be live at Edgewood all weekend with a pit cam and race cam. Topic Timestamps: * 00:00:00 – Intro & Going Live * 00:02:45 – Season Kickoff & Edgewood Preview * 00:07:15 – APBA & HRL Schedule Rundown * 00:09:00 – Driving School Talk & HRL T-Boat Donation * 00:13:10 – U6 Paint Scheme & Boat Aesthetics Hot Takes * 00:21:05 – GUEST: Jimmie Stewart — Edgewood Spring Nationals Preview * 00:30:25 – Stewart Family Skiff Rivalry * 00:31:45 – T-Boat Class History & West Coast Roster * 00:43:45 – APBA Series Structure vs. HRL Debate * 00:53:45 – APBA High Points Predictions (All Classes) * 01:09:00 – Most Improved Picks (All Classes) * 01:15:00 – GP Class Preview & Hops Boat Memories * 01:24:30 – APBA 350 Class Split Controversy (🔥 Hot Take) * 01:37:00 – Edgewood Weekend Preview & Sign Off Guest: Jimmie Stewart — Race director for the Harford County Spring Nationals and active Skiff racer. Jimmy races the 721 alongside his daughters Courtney and Abigail (721 and 41), and is a longtime fixture in the East Coast inboard community. He also operates out of a shop where he builds and maintains boats for multiple teams. Mentioned Teams, Races & Links: * Harford County Spring Nationals — Edgewood, Maryland (this weekend) * HRL Season Opener — Cambridge, MD (following weekend) * Decatur Nationals — Region 6 * Madison Regatta — Gold Cup event * Valleyfield — HRL marquee event * Tri-Cities — Unlimited testing May 30th * Boats mentioned: U6, Lucas 104, T80, GP-17, 135/235 (Thompson), Hopps boat, S35, 721, 41, 300 * Organizations: APBA, HRL, IRC, GPA, ACHA * Shoutout: Redline Motorsports Media / Jerry (Mustache Man), Woody Pliescott (live stream support), Gunnar & Marina (wedding congrats), Kevin Gunther, Greg Isaac, Matt Sontag, Grant Liddycoat, Brandon Cushing / WFO page * Chasein Tails Live Stream: Facebook & YouTube — Edgewood all weekend

Huey Newport: A Legacy Built in Hydroplane Racing | Decades of Stories, Wins, and Innovation EP|83

This one is about legacy—plain and simple. In Episode 83 of Chasin’ Tails, Huey Newport walks through a lifetime in hydroplane racing. From getting started in the early days to becoming a major force in Grand Prix, this is his story told the way it actually happened. We’re not just talking highlights. Huey gets into the grind, the near wins, the turning points, and the decisions that shaped not only his career—but parts of the sport itself. You’ll hear about the boats, the people, and the moments that stuck with him. The races that almost went his way. The ones that changed everything. And the evolution of racing through his eyes as both a competitor and a builder. This is what a real racing legacy looks like. In this episode: * Huey’s full journey through hydroplane racing * Key races and moments that defined his career * The evolution of Grand Prix and boat design * Lessons from decades of competition * Rivalries, partnerships, and staying in the game * What the next generation needs to understand Real moments: * “We almost won the ‘72 Nationals” * “The ‘81 Nationals changed everything” If you care about where this sport came from—and where it needs to go—this is one you listen to all the way through. Follow Chasin’ Tails for more conversations that actually matter in boat racing.

Miss Madison Racing Q&A: Repairs, Strategy, and the Road to the Gold Cup

This isn’t a polished press release. It’s a real look inside what it takes to keep a top-tier hydroplane team on the water. In this episode of Chasin’ Tails, we sit down with the crew behind Miss Madison Racing to break down everything happening right now—from boat repairs and engine decisions to race strategy and the reality of funding a competitive program. We get into the details most people don’t see: • What actually goes into repairing and rebuilding these boats • How teams think through engine options and performance limits • The strategy behind testing, lane choice, and race prep • Why funding is still the biggest hurdle—especially for the West Coast swing • The push to keep vintage boats alive and why that matters to the sport There’s also a real look at team dynamics, travel challenges, and what it takes to stay competitive heading into marquee events like the Gold Cup and the Madison Regatta. If you want to understand hydroplane racing beyond what you see on race day, this is the episode.