below are excerpts from the Sarasota Herald Tribune Article dated 7/5/04
all rights to Perry D. Pentz / Herald Tribune

 Muscle (re)bound
Sarasota boat ends two-year dry spell with win in Superboat Vee Limiteds

By PERRY D. PENTZ
perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com

SARASOTA -- After two years of being unlucky on its home course, Muscle regained its winning form to win its class at the 20th annual Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix on Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico.

The 40-foot Fountain, crewed by Sarasota driver Bruce Kruglick and throttleman David Branch, took advantage of competitors' mistakes to take home the laurels in the Superboat Vee Limited Class over 14 other boats, including runner-up Reichman Motor Sports.

Since its inception in 1985, the Offshore Grand Prix has benefited the Suncoast Foundation for the Handicapped Inc.

The annual races have raised more than $6.5 million for the construction of new facilities to serve the needs of physically and mentally challenged youth in the area.

Muscle led the first lap but dropped into second then third, then reclaimed second place.

"Once we lightened up on fuel, the boat was able to set up a lot better, and that's when we made our charge," said Branch, whose boat was cruising at 105 mph.

"Two of the lead boats got confused on the race course and missed the turn buoy and at that time, it let us get into first place and we maintained our spot the rest of the way."

This is the fifth time in 10 years that Muscle has won in Sarasota. The last time was in 2001.

"Last year we led the entire race and a half-mile mile from the end, our bottom (of the boat) peeled off," said Branch. "The year before that, we were left to sit out there for three hours because of turtles. We ran out of gas 1,000 yards from the finish line in first place. The last two losses were tough. This was a long-time coming."

Branch and Kruglick have been racing together for 10 years.

"It doesn't get any better than winning here in Sarasota," said Branch.

The Grand Prix was sanctioned by Super Boat International Productions Inc. and marked the return of the American Power Boat Association Pro Grade Series to Sarasota.

Some 70 boats were registered this year, double last year's total.

Muscle was the only area powerboat to win a race but four other area boats placed in the top three in three classes.

Offshore GP Note
In a move to mend the differences between SBI and APBA, John Carbonell, president of Super Boat International Productions, and Jim Poplin, president of the American Powerboat Association, agreed to share the water by attending each others' events, while protecting the individual personalities of each racing organization.

As a result, the Offshore Showcase, which was sanctioned by the APBA last year in Sarasota, won't be run.

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http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2004407050522
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The Love Muscle takes its fourth victory of the year and 34th career win in the Washington, North Carolina Fountain Powerboat Gran Prix. "These guys are as tough as they get and are going to be a handfull to beat", stated Reggie Fountain.

"We have so much focus right know that I feel our competitors know that we are going all the way. I plan on winning the National and World Campionships this year. I want it and I can feel it" said Diamond Dave.

"We are a fierce team and the other racers are very concerned about our pressure. We are rolling and are extremly hard to beat", said Driver Bruce Kruglich (a.k.a. - The K-Man). "We have been invited to Key West to compete in the APBA World Championships in November, where the golden boy there is the Nick Carter #1 boat".

"I think we will have to go, pull his pants down, and show this kid there is more to this sport than singing love songs to 9 year old boys", stated Diamond Dave"

After leading the entire race, "The Muscle" headed into the last turn of the Sarasota Offshore Gran Prix with a 40 second lead over Firewater, the second place contender. Within 25 seconds, the 42 ft Fountain sat on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. "It was surreal", stated "K-man", the driver of the Muscle. "After a grueling 91 miles running 120mph the whole way, we could not believe our victory was gone". The Muscle broke the main water feed to the motors on the last lap and despite turning on 4 sea pumps, the water and rain were too much. "I was looking at the checkered flag waving in front of me and the boat began to slow down quick. Before you knew it, the bilge was full of water and she went right down. It was beyond belief", stated Diamond Dave Branch the Muscle's throttleman.

Working 24 hours a day, the team stripped the entire boat and replaced everything in order to make it to the Deerfield race 5 days later. Not only were they there ... but they won! "Mercury stepped up and delivered 2 brand new motors and our team dove in and got the job done", stated K-man. "No one thought it could happen, but it did and we are back in front in the national points standing, the only place for this team to be", Stated Diamond Dave.

Five-time National Champions, "The Love Muscle" have signed a deal to exclusively race Mercury SuperCat motors for the 2002 season. The 540 cu in. motors, which push over 800 horsepower each should give the Muscle Team the edge they are looking for.

"We finished second on the National circuit and second at the World Championships and that just does not work of me", stated Diamond Dave the throttleman for the team.

"This year, Reggie Fountain put a new hull on the boat, and we feel the Mercury guys will give us the edge". The Muscle has a 12 stop season ahead which starts in South Beach in April and ends in New Orleans in November.

COMPETITION News From The Pits May 2, 2001

Dave Branch flexes his new Muscle

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., May 2, 2001 - What can we say about the Muscle 40 footer except “Wow!” Dave Hunter outdid himself on this paint job. “There are so many things about this boat that scream Dave Branch!” Hunter laughs, “He told me, ‘You know how proud you are of that Virgin boat? I want you to be as proud of my boat as you are of that one,’” he relayed of his initial conversations with the mad man of APBA Offshore. The boat not only screams of Branch, but of heavy metal and animal sensuality—we are talking the Muscle Team here--and Branch and Bruce Kruglick look absolutely in their element in this racy and foxy boat.

Decked in black, of course, and trimmed in leopard fur—not just on the paint, but down to the padding on the trailer—the boat is dressed for success, but not in business attire. Well, perhaps a different kind of business…MUSCLE is spelled out in three dimensional-looking capital letters that appear to be metal, riveted onto the boat. A woman’s hand, accessorized in studded black leather, with bright red evil looking nails, tears down the side, ripping through the leopard skin and Muscle team logo of red lips and tasty tongue. The boat also rips through water, as the team proved in Daytona, so watch for this boat to be raising eyebrows along with checkered flags! Oh, and did I mention that the boat and trailer truck’s new tag line is “She purrrs with the stroke of my hand”? Like we said, it screams of Dave Branch.

Ft. Myers is right around the corner.
Stay tuned. — Marilyn DeMartini
c-copyright 2001 Speedvision

COMPETITION

A Racing Team that Flexes Some Muscle

Sarasota, Fla., July 12, 2000  Whether you love them, or hate them, the Muscle Racing Team is undoubtedly one of the most well-known teams on the APBA national racing circuit. With a flash of black and bravado, they saunter into each race site, bringing a little well, a lot--of "T&A," excitement and definite presence, and leave a wake of temporary tattoos, T-shirts, and great memories for fans behind them.

Led by owner and throttleman, "Diamond" Dave Branch, himself a study in a laid back style of intensity, the Muscle Racing Team is the antithesis of what Offshore Powerboat Racing wants to be about. Though they tout an image of being a family sport, and due to cultural demographics, have become that, Offshore Racing is still a sport filled with passion, the thrill of speed, testosterone and women endowed with a significant number of "after-market" parts, (as dubbed by George Steiner, Warlocks new marketing director). Scantily clad women have graced the seats of power boats since day one, so why all the furor over the ones painted on the Muscle Teams fleet of vehicles?

And a fleet it is, requiring a 9,000 s.f. warehouse facility. The recently retired XXX Muscle, a 42" custom Fountain still makes a Pit appearance at races, though this season, the team brought the B-1 33 "Thee Muscle" Powerplay back out of retirement, with the announcement that "The Bitch Is Back!" Among the vehicles in the entourage are a 96 Viper, a 2000 Porsche, two custom softail Harleys, with a matching trailer, a Peterbuilt truck with a 40 Warrior Race Trailer, that doubles as a lounge (complete with a "Petting Zoo" loft boudoir with shower and bath where tattoo of the month contestants can compete) and machine shop, a dooley, and RV, a souvenir trailer (manned by Branchs Momma Muscle and Dad), a limo and a Chevy Suburban, all custom painted in black with the Muscle Team logo, of a womans lipsand very sensually depicted tonguealong with assorted now, bikini clad women.

The design and custom painting of the vehicles is all handled by team member Dave "All Night" Hunter, who also navigates on the V-boat. Branch was a customer of Hunters Ft. Lauderdale shop, where he had created graphics and painted a variety of race boats and custom cars. "I had done so much work for them and knew the boat, that it was a natural fit for me to be in the navigator seat," Hunter says, "It really is a blast, we combine having a great time and being responsible about racing. There are different animals in the boatones that are very careful about safety," he continues, "Dave is a terrific friendeverybody on the team is a real pleasure to be around."

The Muscle Team burst onto the Offshore Powerboat scene in 1996, then known as the Love Muscle, which was edited, due to APBA Officials dictateas was the nude woman on the side of the boathence the new painted-on bikini. "There are rules about lewd and vulgar names or graphics on the boatit is not the image that the APBA wants to portray. We have always promoted grassroots races and the inclusion of children, and their show is offensive to a lot of people and families. All I did was uphold the ideals of the organization," that official commented. "I remember when they first came into Ft. Myers," recalled VP Racing Fuels distributor, Mark Klein, "Everyone was snickering and raising eyebrows, no one expected them to win. But here they are, five years later, almost as the grandfather of racing teamstheyve been around longer than any of the others!" In a sport where teams come and go, depending on money, sponsors, racers or lack thereof, The Muscle has been not only a consistent presence in both APBA and SBI circuits, they have been contenders.

"In the beginning, they said, youre gone!" says Branch, "But I like being here, and have a good timeits not me against them," he explains his love-hate relationship with the APBA, while wearing a black body hugging T-shirt with "Nasty Reputation" on its sleeve. And no one can contest that anyone has much fun at, and with, the APBA pro series than the Muscle TeamBranch loves being both the scourge of the sanctioning body, as well as one of its biggest promoters. As a marketer, Branch sees the big picture and knows that sex sells.

The Muscle compound in the Dry Pits is always a rock and roll party, filled with fans, groupies, a 12+ man crew, many of whom are not paid, but just come along to help field the show and enjoy wearing the XXX Muscle Team black crew T-shirts. No brightly colored polyester racing shirts for this bunch, Branch and "Special K" Bruce Kruglickmake that Doctor Bruce Kruglick who is an emergency room physician at Sarasota Memorial Hospitaltalk about intenseare normally clad in black lycra or leather, showing off not only sculpted biceps and tattoos, but an attitude and disregard for what is "normal" in racing.

But all of the flamboyant and sexy image aside, (and Branch will tell you himself, that he is "one very sexy man"), did we mention that this team can really RACE? Over the past five years, the Team has accumulated 22 checkered flags (many of which Branch has given to kids), and an assortment of titles including 1999 Gold Cup, 1998 National Championships, Award of Valor, Offshore Racing Medal of Honor, Bill Soris Memorial Trophy, 1997 Runner Up in V-Class National, World Championship and Gold Cup, and National Champ Runner Up in B Class. In 97, they also won Sports Team of the Year and received the Caesars Marine Charity Award, while Branch was named Driver of the Year and Kruglick won a World Championship with his former race team. In 96, they were named Rookies of the Year, APBA National Champions, World Kilo Speed Record Holders in V-Class and won 3rd place in Gold Cup High Points.

"When we came in, we knew wed have to win [to be taken seriously]," says Branch, "At that Ft. Myers race, we made a statement, and they knew we were for real after that." Branch furthered his "good guy" reputation among racers, when he threw away chances at a title, by jumping out of his boat, into gasoline filled water, to save Jim Horne, who had been thrown out of his 47 Fountain at the beginning of the World Championship SBI race in Key West. "I knew I had just spent $100,000 to go to this race, but there was never a question for me. We saw him flip and he was face down in the waterof course I was going in!" he states.

Such demonstrations of unselfishness, and yes, bravery, do not go unnoticed in a sport where people risk their lives in the name of sport and fun. The cultivated image as perverted "Bad Boys," belies the personal depth and commitment shown when more important things count, and have earned Branch the respect, if not necessarily the friendship of most racers. "A lot of these guys dont like it when they see us surrounded by 150 fans in the Pits, signing autographs, selling T-shirts, and having fun. They say, Theyre perverts, they make us look bad, but they dont get ityou have to promotelook at NASCAR, thats part of everyones contracts, you have to create exposure." Branch tells other stories of fan loyalty, "muscle heads" who come to every race, who have had their own real tattoos done to replicate the fake ones put on many a womans body parts at the trailer, the fan from South Carolina who bought $600 worth of race apparel at one time and even the fan who got 2,000 names signed on a petition to fight the APBAs dictum to change the teams name. He reports the www.muscleracing.com site gets 1,000 hits per week, and acknowledges some "weirdos" too, who will approach him when he is in his personal Ferrari or spending time with his family. But, Branch accepts it as part of the aura of fameor infamy, in which he has enveloped himself.

Kruglick, who joined the team in 98, after racing as a competitor with the Banker team, laughs about his association, "I got a message from my son that Dave Branch called and wanted me to go car racing with him, I didnt think the message was right, didnt think much of it and never returned the call, then he called again and said, Man, I want you to come racing with me! We hooked up and have been good friends ever since." Kruglicks wife, Sunny, a vivacious blond, is a part of the team, playing the Biker Babe role well, while keeping some of the adoring female fans at bay. Branch, despite his Bad Boy image is also a devoted father to a beautiful daughter and son, and husband to Leigh, who is more a participant observer of the entourage. The kids attend a few of the races and just take it all in stride, riding in the boat parades and accepting the trophies at award ceremonies, at their young ages, oblivious to the antics of the their Dad. "If I wasnt married, Id be dead," Branch states matter-of-factly, "Its the way I live my life. I play hard, I go hard, but on Monday, its over."

Branchs Muscle and sex show might seem extreme to some, but understand that he was introduced to the sport by the granddaddy of Offshore Showmen, Al Copeland. As a college student in New Orleans, who had raced motorcross, Branch met Copeland of the legendary Popeyes Racing Team, who asked him to cook crawfish for him at a party. Then he invited him out on a turn boat at a race. "The first time they went around a corner, I said, Holy Shit! When I make money, this is where I want to go! And Im going in BIG!" True to his promise, after becoming extremely successful in the oil business, Branch has continued to build a variety of businesses, including Horizon Diagnostic Centers, a medical MRI testing firm he now heads, which provides him the flexibilityand financial strengthto race "big." "I thought it was really ironic that last year, I sat with Al Copeland, who I met as a college kid and who brought me into this, and we were both judging the bikini contest at the Key West race! We laughed about it, and here I am, still in the sport!" Copeland, who has retired from racing, still brings his boats, helicopters, limos and big boy toys to the Championship races for showa symbol of the carnival that used to be Offshore Racing and that Branch is keeping alive.

Branch plans to finish this season in the B-Class, though the competition is slim right now. He has the boat dialed-in with new Bandit engines that were questioned by inspectors at the Sarasota race. Having been called in from his daughters Watermouse race, to deal with a required dismantling of the engines for inspection, Branch was more outraged by the implication that he was cheating, than the $3,000 price tag for the engine worknot to mention missing his daughters race and his own awards ceremony in his home town, where he took his 22nd checkered flag. "A bunch of racers like Art Lilly and Bill Hill were behind methey even told the inspector, This guy has given away a championship to save someones lifehes the last guy who is ever going to cheat out here!"

Branch is building a Super Cat that will bear the name of his new sponsor, who will come aboard next season. Penthouse magazine is a logical partner for the Muscle Team and while the magazine plans to use the boat for promotional purposes and photo shoots, Branch assures that the image at the races will still be family-friendlyat least as much as current presence. But despite suggestive popsicle eating contests, strategically placed tattoos, rock n rock groupies and beer drinking, the Muscle Team is not only a winner, but a donor of many thousands of dollars to charities. All of its winnings are donated to the host citys beneficiary or to underprivileged children. The team also created a Muscle Racing Scholarship Foundation which funds two college scholarships a year for needy high school seniors.

"I do believe [The Muscle Team] brings a healthy dose of controversy and bad boy imagery, and thus theater to APBA Offshore," says Mike Allweiss, Chairman, "They have gone over the line at times and when we have asked them to step back, they have. Overall, they are a positive for the sport and best of all, they are real racers. They win and they are champions, so you cannot really argue with that."

So flex those muscles guys, and keep up the effort. Says Hunter, "Daves promise has always been to build the sport. Whether they come to hate us or love us, or wear a T-shirt, they take part in racing."
 Marilyn DeMartini (Photo: Muscle Racing)

They wear tattoos, motorcycle vests and leather chaps laced down the sides. Harleys and Dodge Vipers are parked outside their tent at the Cigarette Super Boat World Championships in Key West. Their race boat is painted with a well-endowed woman in a bathing suit.

Meet the team: throttleman "Diamond" Dave Branch, driver Bruce Kruglick and navigator David "All Night" Hunter. They are contenders for the world championship in the Super Vee Class to be decided Saturday.

Somehow, between all-night parties and considerable attention from female groupies, the three-man team managed to finish second in Wednesday's opener three minutes and 17 seconds behind Popeye.

"We seriously are complete perverts," Branch said.

Well, sort of. At least, that's what he wants you to think.

The three also are husbands and fathers, successful businessmen, and generous donors to charity. But that's not what draws fans to their tent and tractor trailer camp at race sites. It's leather, flesh and the shedding of inhibitions.

John Carbonell, president of Super Boat International Productions, hems and haws a bit when asked about the team's image.

"They're unique. They're different," Carbonell said. "There's the pros and cons to the graffiti on their equipment. They're characters. They mean well. They haven't done anything to really embarrass the sport."

The team burst into offihore powerboat racing in Fort Myers in 1996 in a Sportsmans B-class boat. Officials of the American Power Boat Association took one look at the nude women painted on the sides and promptly banned them from the event. But eventually the officials relented, and the team won the race in its class. The team went on to win two APBA national championships and last month's Gold Cup Offshore race in Islamorada in the B class.

Now the B boat is semi-retired, and the team has turned its focus to the Super Vee class, which Branch says is more competitive. The nude-women paintings now are covered by bathing suits, but the team still cultivates its bad-boy image.

"We're serious about racing," Hunter said. "We stop drinking before the
races, or at least by 2 a.m. anyway."

Really, this is just an act. The part you have to drag out of Hunter, Branch and Kruglick is who they REALLY are: Branch, 37, of Sarasota, owns Horizon Medical Group, a statewide network of 14 diagnostic centers. Kruglick, 40, is an emergency room physician at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Hunter, 35, has a successful sign-painting business in Fort Lauderdale. All are married, and each has two children.

The wives are in Key West for the world championships, but not the children.

Said Branch: "They don't come to these wild races, not the ones out of control. Just Fort Myers, Palm Beach. This isn't the right atmosphere for kids."

However, both of Branch's parents are here. Dad Paul and mom Jane of North Palm Beach sell the team's T-shirts. They shrug off the wild-child facade.

"This is very tame and very harmless," Paul Branch said. "We have a good time and we run a professional operation. We're getting a following." The team donates all of its race winnings and T-shirt sales proceeds to charities - the Sarasota Crippled Children's Hospital, United Way and a University of South Florida scholarship fund.

Fans seem to love the team's contrasting image.

" [They're] probably offensive to most people," said Carol Prevet of Cassadaga, N.Y., shrugging. "Then you talk to them and one is an emergency room doctor. They have a brain behind the disgusting things they do."

Susan Cocking of the Miami Herald
C 1999 Miami Herald - All Rights Reserved

We were all hoping this was the year for the Buccaneers...but alas, it was not meant to be. The Lightning started strong by breaking a losing streak, but unfortunately it looks as if the season will again go downhill.

Oh well, there is always next year. But here is some good news for area sports fans. In a a sport synonymous with the Gulf Coast, Sarasota can boast one national champion. Our major-league team, the "Muscle" offshore race team, took home the national championship. The team did this for the second time in three years.

Alan B.C. Meyer and I have been talking with the local guys, Steve "The Hammer" Hoffman and Steve Strickler, over at the Muscle Racing playground.

Dave Branch, owner and driver, received personal recognition as well. Last February, Branch was voted "Driver of the Year" for 1997 in the V class. At the national awards ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Branch was also recognized and honored by Super Boat International and Vapor Trails Magazine with the prestigious "Offshore Sportsman Of the Year" award.

Area residents are probably familiar with the two "Muscle Boats." They are: the 33-foot Powerplay, a B class machine named "Thee Muscle," currently up for grabs with fresh engines for a small fee, and the 42' Fountain, a V class boat named "XXX Muscle."

The "Muscle" team has an arsenal of support. The convoy includes: two boats, a 65-foot semi tractor-trailer, a 34-foot motor home, two tow vehicles, a maintenance truck, a Dodge Viper, two Harley-Davidsons and a trailer marketing the muscle product line. This entire line is complete with custom paint jobs and graphics.

Branch has been known to be philanthropic especially with his race earnings. He donates all proceeds to the hosting community as well as contributing to charities in the Sarasota area.

This past season, Dr. Bruce Kruglick joined the team as driver and Branch moved to throttle-man. Kruglick, also a Sarasota resident, has been a distinguished racer for years, driving another V class boat, "Triton." Kruglick also has a national championship under his belt. This year the pair will be exclusively racing the V class boat, concentrating on both the National and World Championship..the only honor which has eluded them. We will keep an eye on the Muscle team's progress this season and update you on future victories.