Page 70 - Poker Runs America 17-1

POWER PLAY
PRAStory by: Karl Ecker

Photography by: Lake Racer, LLC

JOEY GRATTON MEMORIAL –

NEW YEAR’S DAY FUN RUN

– SARASOTA, FL

The New Year started out in true offshore began several years ago as a few friends evolved into an annual fun run that serves
style in the great city of Sarasota. Whatgoing boating on New Year’s Day hasup plenty of performance and excitement

for boating enthusiasts.
Boaters – and boats of all makes and

models – are welcome to attend and there’s
no fee to enter. In recent years, the event
changed its name to honor the late Joey

Gratton - a world-class throttleman, hus-
band to Priscilla, father to Blake and Brock,

and friends to so many - who lost his life
during a fatal accident at the 2011 SBI World
Championships in Key West.

Ryan Beckley, throttleman for Double
Edge Motorsports and long-time friend, felt

honoring him would be a way to not only
show respect, but help heal the sadness and
heavy hearts his family and the racing com-

munity has endured since his passing.
Beckley, owner of Kinetic Animation

Graphics, begins planning this event imme-
diately following the Key West Worlds,
designing T-shirts, decals and finalizing

plans for the special day. Assisting in mak-
ing the event a success is Billy Glueck, throt-

tleman of Twisted Metal fame. He trans-
forms his racing headquarters into the place (l-r) Kim Gratton-Pell with Priscilla Gratton.

to be on New Year’s Eve, serving food and

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