| Backstreet Boy Tuned In To Offshore Boat Racing Date: Feb 19, 2002 Source: Tampa Tribune Submitted by: Gina Cates By KATHERINE SMITH Perhaps it's part of his penance. Backstreet Boy Nick Carter is trying to clear a criminal record following his arrest last month at the Pop City nightclub in Tampa by entering an intervention program, which includes community service. The Ruskin native is taking to the water. Carter, 22, recently bought a 43- foot offshore racer with two 750- horsepower engines and plans to enter the 130 mph boat in the American Power Boat Association's 2002 circuit. Joining other celebrities such as ``Beverly Hills 90210'' actor Jason Priestley in the fast-paced sport, Carter won't actually handle the pilot duties. His father, Bob, will be at the helm. He also recruited Lee Murray, a Key West racer regarded for his aggressive racing tactics, to be the boat's throttleman. ``One of the main reasons I am getting into this is my father,'' Carter said. ``It's a dream come true for him.'' Before Carter, who lives in the Florida Keys, takes the wheel, he's going to need a lot of practice. Or at the very least, a brush-up on his navigational skills. Carter was fined for running his boat aground into a preserved area a couple of years ago. Nick Carter Racing will open April 28 in Daytona Beach, then run in the Marathon Offshore Grand Prix on May 17-19 in South Florida. |