2018 NGK F1 Powerboat Championship 1st Race at the Port Neches, Texas, Riverfest

PORT NECHES, Texas, April 25, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- With the retirement of the 2017 NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Champion #10 Terry Rinker, there is a big opportunity for last year's Thunder on the Neches runner-up, #3 Dustin Terry, to shed his bridesmaid legacy and cinch the podium's top spot. Terry will have to watch out for last year's third place winner and Texas native, #4 Wesley Cheatham, as he returns to Port Neches this year.

Along with the Formula 1 class boats, fans will see racing action from Formula Lights (a class with less horsepower, but equal fierceness of Formula 1), the wave crashing Tri-Hulls and the daring J Hydroplanes, a class designed for junior drivers.

The F-Light winner of 2017, #6 Mark Schmerbauch, is expected to return and defend his place on the podium. Also returning is the man who finished just behind him in boat #93, RJ West of California. In the Tri-Hull class, Port Neches' own hometown hero, Hunter Barber, will return to defend his championship title, and in J-Hydro, watch for last year's winner, #97 Riley Teague ? both of whom are Texas-based racers.

Thunder on the Neches 2018 will see the introduction of NGK F1's new timing sessions. This is a new method to determine the starting positions for the weekend's first qualifying heats. Drivers will be divided into timing groups of 4-7 boats, running for approximately 8 minutes, with their lap times automatically recorded. When all groups have completed their timing sessions, the boats with the shortest times will be granted the most advantageous starting position for Heat #1.

Driver RJ West explained the importance of the first race of the season to The Beaumont Enterprise saying, "This race is usually the first big event race we have [and] we use it like a measuring stick...We're off all winter and we put our work in, but we don't really know where everyone else is at, or what they've done."

Greenlight TV will film the NGK F1 racing action all season, producing six 30-minute shows for the CBS Sports Network and live streaming races on the series' Facebook page. CBS Sports Network will air the Formula 1 final with brief highlights from both the F-Lights and Tri Hull finals on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 7:00 and 10:00 PM ET.

For more information about the NGK Spark Plugs F1 Powerboat Championship Series, please visit ngkf1.com.

NGK Spark Plugs ? The World Leader in Spark Plug and Oxygen Sensor Technology

Since 1936, NGK Spark Plugs has been the world leader in technology, innovation, and world-class quality in the design of spark plugs and oxygen sensors. Today, NGK manufactures NGK Spark Plugs and NTK Oxygen Sensors for virtually every automotive manufacturer in the world.

NGK has built a reputation for quality and reliability, and a commitment to excellence continues to be the driving force behind the company's advanced research and development programs. With state-of-the-art manufacturing, inventory, and distribution facilities, NGK provides customers with world-class products and services.

In addition to serving OE automotive and aftermarket customers, NGK also produces spark plugs for motorcycle, power sports, marine and small engine manufacturers. NGK also offers complementary product lines including resistor caps, spark plug wires, and high-performance cables.

In North America, NGK is headquartered in Wixom, MI and maintains manufacturing, inventory, and distribution facilities in Irvine, CA, Sissonville, WV, and Chicago, IL.

For more information about NGK Spark Plugs, (U.S.A), Inc., please visit our website http://www.ngksparkplugs.com.

Our Mission: "We improve life through the environmentally responsible manufacture and precise application of advanced ceramic technologies for all of North America.  Focused on innovation and teamwork, we contribute to local and global economic growth by matching our products to our customers' visions each day, exceeding their expectations in quality, value, service and performance."

SOURCE NGK Spark Plugs F1 Powerboat Championship