Greensburg natives part of championship hydroplane racing team

(SAN DIEGO, CA.) – Two Greensburg natives are part of a championship Grand Prix hydroplane racing team. 

Grand Prix hydroplanes are high-powered, supercharged racing boats that can reach speeds over 170 miles-per-hour. 

One of the teams is the GP-10 The Freak is driven by longtime racer Kevin Eacrat, of Washington. 

Two crewmembers of the racing team are from right here in Decatur County. 

Drew McCarter is a Greensburg native who’s been part of Eacrat’s team for the past eight seasons. 

A few years ago, the team needed a temporary crewmember to fill-in at the Madison Regatta and McCarter reached out to his friend, Jason Baltus, of Greensburg. 

Baltus immediately impressed the team with his work ethic and was later offered a permanent spot as a crew member. 

McCarter and Baltus now hold key roles on the team and their work this season has led GP-10 The Freak to being named the National High Point Champion in the series.

They earned the award Sunday after competing in the season finale at the San Diego Bayfair, which is Southern California’s largest boat race. 

The season began at the Madison Regatta and has included races in Washington and Quebec, Canada. 

McCarter is a Greensburg and Ball State graduate who has worked for Jasper’s Engines and now at Ohio Video Walls. 

Baltus is a South Decatur graduate who works at Baltus Electronics and also serves as a first responder for the Letts Volunteer Fire Department.