Travis Johnston recently placed second in the 2008 American Powerboat Association’s overall high-points 5-liter hydroplane championship.

Johnston finished runner-up to his father, Wally Johnston. Each driver scored over 3,000 points for 15 races during the season, with Travis finishing just 32 points behind his dad in the final standings.

It was the senior Johnston’s third world championship, having previously won in 1998 and 2006.

Travis Johnston has been involved with hydroplanes for 28 years, ever since his dad first started taking him along to his races when he was just 2 years old.

Travis, 30, continues the family tradition, as he drives to all his events with his wife, Shannon, daughter, Chloe, 7, and son, Ty, 4.

This year they traveled about 16,000 miles around the country.

Johnston first started racing in 1987 when he was just 9. He competed in the J-Stock class, racing 10-foot boats with six-horsepower outboard motors. He continued in that vein until he was 12, participating in events around Montana at places like Devil’s Elbow near Lakeside, Whitefish Lake, Polson and Browning.

Between the ages of 13 and 20, Johnston accompanied his dad on the racing tour. Several years they would log over 20,000 miles in a season. One of Travis’ main roles back then was manning the radio during his dad’s races. He started driving on his own in about 2000, competing in the inboard 5-liter class and taking turns using his father’s boat for the first couple of years.

In 2002, Travis started driving a boat for Justin Weymouth, of Woodinville, Wash. Weymouth owns the boat and Johnston does the driving.

Earlier this season, Johnston won the APBA U.S. Inboard Summer National championship, which was held in Celina, Ohio. He entered the finals against 10 other hydroplanes with just the ninth fastest time. But he “outdrove everybody” in the finale to cop the title, according to Wally Johnston.

Travis’ 20-foot hydroplane is named JJW Construction/Silvercloud Inns. It is powered by a 305 Chevy V-8 motor and reaches speeds up to 118 miles per hour.

The final race of the season took place last weekend in Issaquah, Wash., on Lake Sammamish, where Wally was crowned the overall high-points titlist and Travis received runner-up honors.

QCan you describe your feelings on what it was like competing for the No. 1 and 2 spots in the world with your dad this year?

AIt was awesome. I grew up idolizing the way he drove, and for us to race side by side was really amazing. Of the three championship races we were in, I won two and he finished second in both of those, and he won the other with me taking second. It really didn’t matter at the end who got first or second — we both won, being it was him and I.

QHave you ever flipped a boat?

AYes, just this year for the first time. It was in Yelm, Wash. I was in the second position on the second corner. I hit what we call a roller (small wake) and it sent me airborne. It was like a roller coaster; it happens so quick it’s over as soon as it starts.

QWhat are some of your hobbies?

ASpending time with my family, golfing, and following Capital, Carroll and Griz football.

QWhat are some of your goals in hydroplane racing?

AI’d like to get inducted into our APBA Hall of Fame, and someday move up to the Grand Prix class. Those are the super-charged alcohol engines; they go about 170-175 miles per hour.

QWhat do you think is the most important thing about racing that you’ve learned from your dad?

AI’ve tried to model my driving after him. He’s very competitive, but at the same time he always races clean, which is the credo I try to follow.

Reporter Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net