Stray Teams With DWR/Doug Wright Powerboats To Develop Class 1 And Super Cat Raceboats
In the early 2000s when Justin Wagner was getting his feet wet in the performance boat industry, Gary Stray was one of his idols. And why not? Stray worked with the dominant Victory team Class 1 outfit for eight years, followed by MTI for nine years and the Miss GEICO offshore racing team for 12 years. His status as a world-class innovator, offshore raceboat rigger and set-up man is unquestionable.
Renowned offshore powerboat racing set-up and innovation man Gary Stray is now at the helm of the Doug Wright Racing division of the storied offshore raceboat brand. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
“I met Gary in 2007 or 2008,” said Wagner, who purchased Doug Wright Powerboats/Doug Wright Racing—or DWR—earlier this summer. “It was like pouring fuel on a fire when I met him—he was like a super-hero to me. I remember talking to him for hours and hours about hulls. Gary had a very big influence on my career.”
The owner and founder of South Florida-based Supercat Rigging, Stray remembers the meeting. Wagner impressed him not just with his intelligence and passion for high-performance boats, but with his exceptional drive, determination and candor. The two stayed in touch during the years and even collaborated on a red Z06 Corvette-themed, 44-foot MTI pleasure catamaran. When Wagner purchased the Doug Wright brand, Stray reached out to congratulate him and offer whatever guidance and assistance he could.
Now Stray, Wagner and Doug Wright, Sr., will be collaborating on new raceboats for offshore racing’s Class 1 and Super Cat categories. Stray is the director of the Doug Wright Racing division. He’s the head of raceboat sales and development.
(From left) Doug Wright, Sr., Gary Stray and Patrick Cleaveland bonded immediately during their first meeting.
“The Doug Wright brand has a great history and pedigree in offshore racing,” Wagner explained. “Though I am heavily focused on the pleasure-boat side of the brand, I didn’t want to lose that. Of course I want to preserve and continue that heritage. But to do that, I needed someone who is not just super-experienced but ahead of his time. So I reached out to Gary.
“I am a big relationship guy—it’s not just about credentials and ability with me,” he continued. “There’s a lot more to Gary than his immense expertise. It’s about who he is as a person. When I got him together with Doug, the two of them immediately went to the computer and started sharing things they’d done and had been thinking about doing. They’re both incredibly humble. It was an awesome thing to watch.”
Stray is equally thrilled to be partnered with Wagner and Wright.
And though he believes the Doug Wright brand has exceptionally strong footing in the Super Stock and Factory Stock classes, he is certain the collaboration will help improve all Doug Wright Racing offerings.
But to start, his primary focus will be developing catamarans for Class 1 and Super Cat.
“There is a big rift in the market for Class 1 and Super Cat raceboats,” Stray explained. “Everyone in Class 1 is scrambling for a Victory raceboat, and there are only a few of them left. And I think between myself, Justin and Doug, we can put together something together that is comparable to what Victory did. That is quite a statement, I know, but I think we can do it. And though the Doug Wright outboard catamaran raceboat program is in great shape—it’s a well-lubricated machine—I think we can implement a few things we’ve learn and already know into those boats.
“In Super Cat, you have Skater and MTI but I think there is room for another option,” he continued. “And again, I know that with Justin and Doug we can create a really good option.”
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