Bartels Racing sisters in race for points leader

BREWSTER – When the owners, drivers, and boats with the Pacific Northwest Boat Racing Association (PNBRA) rolled into town for the third annual Brewster Thunderfest - Tony Newton Memorial Regatta last Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7-8, the only team that boasted a pair of racing sisters was the one that other drivers are trying to catch.

Marina, 25, and Marissa Bartels, 23, of Bartels Family Racing in Buckley, Washington, were in second place in the 2.5 Modified division, only 175 points behind leader Jestin Burnett after coming off a third-place finish at Pateros, August 17-18. The Bartels sisters drive the blue and white A-11powered by an Esslinger four-cylinder modified 2.5 litre fuel-injected engine capable of developing more than 350 horsepower. 

When Marina’s career on a tugboat crew allows, she shares cockpit duties with her sister, but four years at college plus work – like her current stint in the Gulf of Mexico during Thunderfest – puts Marissa behind the wheel more often.

“Marissa has had a lot more opportunity to drive the boat,” said Bartels.

Marissa’s job with Lakeridge Paving in Auburn positions her in closer proximity to the fast boat crowd since Lakeridge owns the Go Fast Turn Left Racing team and a boat that races in the unlimited circuit. Driver Gunnar O’Farrell is also Marina’s boyfriend, so Bartels describes competing against him as more of a family affair.

Growing up racing

“When the girls were young, I had a Grand Prix boat called the Miss Executive′, a former world record holder,” said dad Darren Bartels. “During that period, they learned about crewing and dealing with adults.”

Power boats were as familiar as pacifiers to the girls.

“When they finally came of age at 16, they got the opportunity to drive,” said Bartels. “I bought a 2.5 stock boat for them, and we placed second in the nation on our first year (2017) out.” 

The boat the Bartels team runs now was the 2018 2.5 modified national champion and purchased by Bartels in 2019. It comes with an ironic link to its current owners.

Flipping for a champion

“We were at Oak Harbor in 2018 where Marissa was driving in lane one and the boat we own now was in lane two,” said Bartels. “She got caught up in the rooster tail and barrel rolled her boat right behind the boat we presently race. The boat she drives now caused her to flip once before.”

Despite the fast start the team has not placed that high. The very nature of racing comes with its share of problems matching high performance with power.

“I bought a faster boat, but with a faster boat came faster problems,” said Bartels. “It’s taken years to get this thing running right.”

The boat appears to be running right lately as the Bartels Team competes for first place in the final two races of the year, Brewster followed by Manson on Sept. 28-29.

“This year we are doing pretty darn good,” said Bartels. 

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media