Powerboat racers for Staubo, Tomlinson still lead

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) -- Despite suffering a breakdown and almost sinking, powerboat racers Tor Staubo and Johnny Tomlinson still lead the Superboat Unlmited class at the Key West World Championship.

Piloting Gasse, Staubo of Oslo, Norway, and throttleman Tomlinson of North Miami were averaging 104.8 mph Friday before one of their engine's saltwater intake cooling tubes broke near the end of the sixth lap.

But two other boats in the class, Spirit of Qatar and Miss Geico, also suffered mechanical failures, and finished behind Gasse.

There was one accident when the turbine boat Semper Fi/Miss Mary Mac rolled over at turn (hash)3 in Key West Harbor. Racers Nick Scafidi of Jupiter, Fla., and Richard Chaney Jr. of Lothian, Md., suffered minor contusions and refused medical treatment, officials said.

The championship's finals are scheduled Sunday.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)