Villwock Tops Columbia Cup Qualifiers
Driver Dave Villwock turned a 160.892 mph lap on the Columbia River to become the top qualifier Friday at the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series race in Tri-Cities, Wash.
Villwock earned the “Fast Lap Friday” award for the third consecutive race by edging rival driver Steve David on the 2.5-mile course. David ran 159.204 mph.
“The boat is running pretty good, so far so good,” said Villwock, who is the sport’s all-time winningest driver with 63 career race victories. “As much as we fight ourselves, we pride ourselves on being consistent.”
The qualifying session marked the return of David, who sat out the race in Detroit nursing spiral fractures in his ribs. He suffered the injury during a crash with Villwock in the season opener. He also had his Oh Boy! Oberto boat back after the crew made $100,000 in repairs.
“We’re never happy with second but considering what the team did in 21 days to come out and run 1 mph off the top dog that was impressive,” David said.
Air National Guard Series points leader Kip Brown posted a 156.565 mph lap speed to place third. JW Myers in Stevenson Roofing Presents Peters & May grabbed fourth with 153.149 mph and Jeff Bernard in Graham Trucking was the fifth fastest at 152.261 mph.
David is looking for his fourth consecutive Lamb Weston Columbia Cup. He won in 2010 when the leader Villwock was called for an infraction on the final turn on the last lap, giving David the victory.
Racing at the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series continues today with three heats and two more rounds of heats on Sunday. The final is set for Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Air National Guard Series, visit www.h1unlimited .com
Top 5 Qualifiers for Air National Hydroplane Series in Detroit
Place, Driver, Boat Name, Top Speed
1. Dave Villwock, U-96 Spirit of Qatar, 160.892 mph
2. Steve David, U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, 159.204 mph
3. Kip Brown, U-17 Miss Red Dot, 156.565 mph
4. JW Myers, U-11 Stevenson Roofing Presents Peters & May, 153.149 mph
5. Jeff Bernard, U-5 Graham Trucking, 152.261 mph
Villwock Tops Columbia Cup Qualifiers
Driver Dave Villwock turned a 160.892 mph lap on the Columbia River to become the top qualifier Friday at the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series race in Tri-Cities, Wash.
Villwock earned the “Fast Lap Friday” award for the third consecutive race by edging rival driver Steve David on the 2.5-mile course. David ran 159.204 mph.
“The boat is running pretty good, so far so good,” said Villwock, who is the sport’s all-time winningest driver with 63 career race victories. “As much as we fight ourselves, we pride ourselves on being consistent.”
The qualifying session marked the return of David, who sat out the race in Detroit nursing spiral fractures in his ribs. He suffered the injury during a crash with Villwock in the season opener. He also had his Oh Boy! Oberto boat back after the crew made $100,000 in repairs.
“We’re never happy with second but considering what the team did in 21 days to come out and run 1 mph off the top dog that was impressive,” David said.
Air National Guard Series points leader Kip Brown posted a 156.565 mph lap speed to place third. JW Myers in Stevenson Roofing Presents Peters & May grabbed fourth with 153.149 mph and Jeff Bernard in Graham Trucking was the fifth fastest at 152.261 mph.
David is looking for his fourth consecutive Lamb Weston Columbia Cup. He won in 2010 when the leader Villwock was called for an infraction on the final turn on the last lap, giving David the victory.
Racing at the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series continues today with three heats and two more rounds of heats on Sunday. The final is set for Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Air National Guard Series, visit www.h1unlimited .com
Top 5 Qualifiers for Air National Hydroplane Series in Detroit
Place, Driver, Boat Name, Top Speed
1. Dave Villwock, U-96 Spirit of Qatar, 160.892 mph
2. Steve David, U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, 159.204 mph
3. Kip Brown, U-17 Miss Red Dot, 156.565 mph
4. JW Myers, U-11 Stevenson Roofing Presents Peters & May, 153.149 mph
5. Jeff Bernard, U-5 Graham Trucking, 152.261 mph