Racing got underway Saturday in the 59^th running of the HAPO Columbia Cup in the Tri-Cities area of South Central Washington with the running of the first two preliminary heats of the weekend.

Heat 1A matched up the two top qualifiers who were also the winners of the first two races of 2014 – Gold Cup Champion Jimmy Shane in the 6 Oberto was the top qualifier and Madison Regatta Champion J. Michael Kelly  in the 1 Graham Trucking who qualified second.

They were joined by Jamie Nilsen in the 21 Lakeridge Paving, Tom Thompson in the 11 Peters & May, Kelly Stocklin in the 18 Bucket List Racing and Dave Villwock, in his return to competition,  driving the 37 Miss Beacon Plumbing.

Kelly and Shane staged a terrific duel out front while officials reviewed the start. Stocklin was ruled the only legal starter which meant Kelly and Shane had to lap him for the win.  And they did. Kelly took the win in the 1 Graham Trucking and gave notice he will be a force to be reckoned with.  Shane was second in the Oberto after challenging Kelly all three laps and Villwock finished third.

Jon Zimmerman in the 9 Les Schwab Tires-Team RedDOT was the fastest qualifier drawn into Heat 1B.  Zimmerman qualified third and was joined in the heat by Cal Phipps in the 7 Graham Trucking II who qualified fourth.

Mike Webster in the 22 Ranch & Home presents Payne West Insurance, Greg Hopp driving 12 Miss  DiJulio, Jeff Bernard in the Our Gang Racing and Kip Brown in the first competition for Ellstrom Racing’s new 96 Spirit of Qatar.

Disappointment came early for Brown when his new boat failed to start.  Zimmerman wired the start in lane two and led all three laps with Phipps challenging early from lane one.  As Zimmerman pulled away, Webster moved around Phipps to finish second.  Phipps was third and Bernard fourth.

Racing will resume at 10:15 am Sunday (PDT) with Heat 2A.  The winner take all Final Heat to decide the 2014 HAPO Columbia Cup Champion is set to go at 4:40 pm on Sunday.

 

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	U-1 Graham Trucking	J. Michael Kelly	149.946	400
2	U-6 Oberto	Jimmy Shane	149.577	300
3	U-37 Cost Less Carpet presents Miss Beacon Plumbing	Dave Villwock	141.056	225
4	U-11 Peters & May	Tom Thompson	131.08	169
5	U-21 Lakeridge Paving	Jamie Nilsen	124.188	127
6	U-18 Bucket List Racing	Kelly Stocklin	111.51	95

Finish	Boat	Driver	Avg. Speed	Points
1	U-9 Les Schwab Tires-Team RedDOT	Jon Zimmerman	144.712	400
2	U-22 Ranch & Home presents Payne West Insurance	Mike Webster	139.565	300
3	U-7 Graham Trucking II	Cal Phipps	138.938	225
4	U-17 Our Gang Racing	Jeff Bernard	137.854	169
5	U-12 Miss DiJulio	Greg Hopp	118.737	127
DNS	U-96 Spirit of Qatar	Kip Brown	0	0

Boat draw for Columbia Cup 2A

Number – Boat	Driver
U-1 Graham Trucking	J. Michael Kelly
U-12 Miss DiJulio	Greg Hopp
U-6 Oberto	Jimmy Shane
U-96 Spirit of Qatar	Kip Brown
U-21 Lakeridge Paving	Jamie Nilsen
U-11 Peters & May	Tom Thompson

Boat draw for Columbia Cup 2B

Number – Boat	Driver
U-7 Graham Trucking II	Cal Phipps
U-18 Bucket List Racing	Kelly Stocklin
U-9 Les Schwab Tires-Team RedDOT	Jon Zimmerman
U-17 Our Gang Racing	Jeff Bernard
U-22 Ranch & Home presents Payne West Insurance	Mike Webster
U-37 Cost Less Carpet presents Miss Beacon Plumbing	Dave Villwock

 

Number – Boat	Driver	Points
U-1 Graham Trucking	J. Michael Kelly	400
U-9 Les Schwab Tires-Team RedDOT	Jon Zimmerman	400
U-6 Oberto	Jimmy Shane	300
U-22 Ranch & Home presents Payne West Insurance	Mike Webster	300
U-7 Graham Trucking II	Cal Phipps	225
U-37 Cost Less Carpet presents Miss Beacon Plumbing	Dave Villwock	225
U-17 Our Gang Racing	Jeff Bernard	169
U-11 Peters & May	Tom Thompson	169
U-12 Miss DiJulio	Greg Hopp	127
U-21 Lakeridge Paving	Jamie Nilsen	127
U-18 Bucket List Racing	Kelly Stocklin	95
U-96 Spirit of Qatar	Kip Brown	0

 

Number – Boat	Driver	Points
U-1 Graham Trucking	J. Michael Kelly	480
U-9 Les Schwab Tires-Team RedDOT	Jon Zimmerman	470
U-6 Oberto	Jimmy Shane	400
U-22 Ranch & Home presents Payne West Insurance	Mike Webster	330
U-7 Graham Trucking II	Cal Phipps	285
U-37 Cost Less Carpet presents Miss Beacon Plumbing	Dave Villwock	275
U-17 Our Gang Racing	Jeff Bernard	209
U-11 Peters & May	Tom Thompson	199
U-12 Miss DiJulio	Greg Hopp	157
U-21 Lakeridge Paving	Jamie Nilsen	157
U-18 Bucket List Racing	Kelly Stocklin	95
U-96 Spirit of Qatar	Kip Brown	30