Episode 76- Powerboat Talk with Tony Scarlata Drag Boat Racing Legend
Tony Scarlata: A Life in Drag Boat Racing and Hot Boats
In this episode of Powerboat Talk, we sit down with Tony Scarlata, a Southern California boat racer and lifelong hot boat enthusiast who has driven some of the most recognizable and successful Top Alcohol Flatbottom drag boats in the history of the sport.
Scarlata’s story stretches from his early days boating on the Sacramento Delta to championship-winning Top Alcohol Flatbottoms, K-boats, the Outlaw Nationals on the Parker Strip, and his brief 2026 stint with the IHRA Outlaw Drag Boat Series.
From the Sacramento Delta to His First Hot Boat
A Northern California native, Scarlata grew up boating on the Sacramento Delta with his father and family friends. After earning a football scholarship to Oregon State University, his father rewarded him with his first boat, a jet boat.
As if there were any doubt Scarlata had hot boats in his blood, he took out a $4,000 student loan and promptly invested it in his education, a big-block Chevy for the boat.
Moving Up Through the Drag Boat Racing Ranks
Scarlata began racing in 1990 and soon found himself driving for other boat owners. His first major victory came in 1997 in the Pro Gas Flat class at Augusta. Before long, he moved into Top Alcohol Flat, driving Rick Jackson’s Flatzilla before beginning a four-year stint in one of Kevin Felkins’ Canyon boats.
Perhaps Scarlata’s greatest success came behind the wheel of Tommy Thompson’s Canyon Shazam. Scarlata recalls the team winning six Top Alcohol Flat championships, but one of their biggest accomplishments came at Bakersfield in 2017. There, Shazam ran a 4.96 e.t., becoming the first Top Alcohol Flat to break into the four-second range.
Circle Boat Racing and a Life-Threatening Crash
Drag boat racing wasn’t Scarlata’s only pursuit. He also spent years competing in circle boat racing in the Super Stock and K-boat classes.
That chapter of his racing career came to an end after a serious crash in Australia in 2010. Scarlata nearly drowned in the accident and spent several days in a medically induced coma while doctors worked to reduce swelling on his brain. Following the crash, he retired from circle racing.
Tony Scarlata and the Outlaw Nationals
Scarlata also made his mark on the performance boating community by founding the Outlaw Nationals in 2016. Held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Sundance Saloon on the Parker Strip, the race began with a public challenge between Scarlata and fellow drag boat racer Shane Westerfield to settle things with an impromptu showdown on the Colorado River.
What began as a challenge between two racers grew into an annual hot boat tradition, with last year marking the 10th running of the Outlaw Nationals.
The 2026 IHRA Outlaw Drag Boat Series
The 2026 season brought another unexpected chapter in Scarlata’s career. Although he didn’t have a full-time driving ride, he was named Series Manager of the IHRA Outlaw Drag Boat Series in February. Just four months later, he was relieved of his duties in June.
In this episode, Scarlata shares his perspective on the brief experience and some of the behind-the-scenes craziness surrounding the short-lived IHRA saga.
Giving Back to the NJBA Drag Boat Racing Community
Scarlata remains a familiar face at National Jet Boat Association (NJBA) drag boat races, where he continues to support the sport even when he isn’t behind the wheel. He can often be found helping fellow racers, taking younger competitors under his wing, and working on the starter’s barge.
From championship Top Alcohol Flatbottoms and K-boats to the Outlaw Nationals and today’s NJBA drag boat racing scene, Tony Scarlata has spent more than three decades deeply immersed in the world of fast boats. In this episode of Powerboat Talk, he looks back on the boats, racers, victories, crashes and unexpected twists that have shaped his career in performance boating.
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