Mark and Jenni are a husband/wife team out of Highlandville, MO. Mark handles the driving chores, while Jenni fulfills the teams “need for speed” with the throttle. Under Destruction’s amazing rookie turnout makes them serious contenders for the 2009 OSS season which kicks off towards the end of March in Biloxi, Mississippi at the Smokin’ The Sound event. Expect to see Mark and Jenni Dunbar at the top of the point standings when the OSS National Championship rolls into Lake of the Ozarks for the finale next season.
Atlantis Island Condos: Wow, what a rookie year! What prompted you and Mark to throw your hats into the ring of powerboat racing?
Jenni Dunbar: We have raced alot of things, Mark races dirt bikes, 4 wheelers and drag cars and I got into racing 4 wheelers about 3 years ago, but as for boat racing we started out as fans. We went to several of the races and got to meet some of the other racers and just decided to give it a try. So far we really enjoy it.
AIC: Under Destruction took two checkered flags in 2008. Which victory was the sweetest for you, Lake Havasu City, or Lake of the Ozarks?
JD: You know both of them were great. Havasu because it was our first win ever was awesome, but also Lake of the Ozarks because it finished out our season and proved that it wasn't just luck on the first win and it made it such a close race for the national championship title. We had no idea where we had ended up in points until the awards and we were pinched out by 1 point.
AIC: Describe the action inside the cockpit during a lap…
JD: The action changes all the time depending on where you are on the course and how many boats are around you. The corners can be quite intense, especially the first one because we are all wanting the same thing, to come out of that first corner in front. We talk alot about where the other boats are, how fast we are going, and we only yell a little! There is a lot to be in control of inside the boat and a lot of gauges and other things to pay attention to.
AIC: There was confusion in some circles (mine included) concerning the National Champion title. Wild Ride took the title in your class (Vee Lite) by just one point. Can you explain the scoring system for those of us who are new fans to the sport?
JD: Points are assesed from each race in the series depending on how you finish. 1st place gets 100 points, 2nd gets 95, 3rd gets 91, 4th gets 88, and so on. You are allowed to miss one race and get last place points, if you miss another you don't get any. The most accumulated points at the last race wins.
AIC: You are the only female "throttle man" on the circuit. Do you think that some of the other teams may have underestimated you and Mark because of this?
JD: Yes I definitely know they did because they told us. They thought Mark was crazy to have me in the boat and that we wouldn't last long. But after the first few races they realized we were here to stay and were a force to be reckoned with. We definitely proved ourselves to the other racers and to ourselves.
AIC: Powerboat racing has been referred to as "NASCAR on the water". What are some of the similarities?
JD: There are more similarities in the super vee lite class than in the others. We actually start in a 2 x 2 grid formation. Our boats all have the same Mercury 525 engines. It is a spec class. We run as hard as our boats will go. We run a points system. We have sponsor stickers all over our boats. And if we happen to crash it would be like hitting concrete.
AIC: What do you think needs to happen to thrust the Offshore Super Series into the national spotlight?
JD: I think we would need better tv coverage, and good race venues where you can see all of the action that our races have to offer, and bigger sponsors to help get offshore racing out to the public to where when you say I'm going to an offshore powerboat race they know exactly what you are talking about.
AIC: If you could have any sponsor in the whole wild world, who would you want it to be?
JD: That’s a difficult one, right now we would just like a big sponsor, but the best sponsor is one that enjoys the sport and wants to be involved in all of the aspects of it. We can give the same advertising exposure as a billboard but ours is traveling and is a fraction of the cost of most businesses advertising expenses for a couple of months and we are seen by 10,000 people or more on a race weekend.
AIC: Any changes being planned for the boat for your sophomore season?
JD: More speed of course, that’s what everyone wants. We are going to do some testing with some different props and just get more comfortable with the boat and replace things that are worn. Just normal maintenance.
Atlantis Island Condos congratulates Under Destruction for a phenomenal rookie showing, all the Offshore Super Series teams for a superb season, and to the following teams for their hard fought 2008 OSS National Championship Titles:
To learn more about Under Destruction Racing please visit their website. You can contact Jenni and Mark Dunbar at underdestructionracing@gmail.com
For more information about Atlantis Island Condos and our Offshore Super Series National Championships views please visit our website. For more pictures of the racing action at the Lake of the Ozarks please visit our image gallery.
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