Corey Peabody and Jamie Nilsen win heats in the Tri-Cities
KENNEWICK, Wash. — Corey Peabody of Covington, Wash., and Jamie Nilsen of Gig Harbor, Wash., were both winners today in the Tri-Cities, Wash., as the Columbia Cup competition got underway in this weekend’s stop of the H1 Unlimited Racing Series. With his victory, Nilsen also reclaimed his points lead in the race for the 2023 national championship.
Today’s action on the Columbia River began with a heat that combined the two boats campaigned by the Strong Racing Team of Auburn, Wash., with the two boats from the Madison Racing Team of Madison, Ind. The four boats entered the first turn together, side by side by side, until Peabody of the Strong team in Beacon Plumbing and Dylan Runne of the Madison team in Miss HomeStreet, pulled away from the others.
Peabody and Runne continued to battle through the first lap until Runne, of Rumson, NJ, nearly collided with Peabody’s boat as they rounded the first turn of lap two. That earned him a one-lap penalty for a lane violation and handed the victory to Peabody. J. Michael Kelly of Bonney Lake, Wash., driving Beacon Electric of the Strong team, finished second.
“That was a hell of a heat, I’ll tell you that,” Peabody said when it was over. “What a heat! What a good time! That was one for the books. I’m glad we got to put on a good show. It was great for the fans. I had a blast. That’s what racing’s all about.”
In the day’s second preliminary heat, Nilsen had a perfect start aboard Legend Yacht Transport presented by The Truss Company and pulled away from Dustin Echols of Monroe, Wash., going into the first turn. Driving Flav-R-Pac, Echols had the advantage of an inside lane, but Nilsen continued to increase his lead and crossed the finish line in first place. “That was a race for sure,” he said. “This team has given me a great boat. I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did. I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”
The Columbia Cup action will wrap-up tomorrow with two sets of preliminary heats and the winner-take-all final heat. The day’s first race is scheduled for 10 a.m. PDT with the final at 4:30 p.m. Tickets to the race are still available at waterfollies.com.
Nothing can beat the thrill of watching the world’s fastest race boats in person as they hit speeds approaching 200 mpg and throw spray high into the air. If you’re not able to attend, however, you can join boat racing fans around the world who will watch the action live on the H1 Unlimited YouTube Channel. You can find the link at H1Unlimited.com.
Columbia Cup
at the Tri-Cities, Wash.
HEAT 1A — 1, Corey Peabody, Beacon Plumbing, 400 points, 152.948 avg. speed; 2, J. Michael Kelly, Beacon Electric, 300, 147.764; 3, Andrew Tate, Miss Goodman Real Estate, 225, 144.508; 4, Dylan Runne, Miss HomeStreet, 169, 143.797.
HEAT 1B — 1, Jamie Nilsen, Legend Yacht Transport presented by The Truss Company, 400, 145.895; 2, Dustin Echols, Flav-R-Pac, 300, 141.355; 3, Bobby King, Graham Trucking, 225, 131.366; Jimmy King, Griggs presents Miss Ace Hardware, DNF.
NATIONAL STANDINGS — 1, Jamie Nilsen, Legend Yacht Transport presented by The Truss Company, 2745 points; 2, J. Michael Kelly, Beacon Electric, 2674; 3, Corey Peabody, Beacon Plumbing, 2280; 4, Dustin Echols, Flav-R-Pac, 2088; 5, Dylan Runne, Miss HomeStreet, 1913; 6, Andrew Tate, Miss Goodman Real Estate, 1345; 7, Jimmy King, Griggs presents Miss Ace Hardware, 370; 8, Bobby King, Graham Trucking, 255.
Corey Peabody and Jamie Nilsen win heats in the Tri-Cities
KENNEWICK, Wash. — Corey Peabody of Covington, Wash., and Jamie Nilsen of Gig Harbor, Wash., were both winners today in the Tri-Cities, Wash., as the Columbia Cup competition got underway in this weekend’s stop of the H1 Unlimited Racing Series. With his victory, Nilsen also reclaimed his points lead in the race for the 2023 national championship.
Today’s action on the Columbia River began with a heat that combined the two boats campaigned by the Strong Racing Team of Auburn, Wash., with the two boats from the Madison Racing Team of Madison, Ind. The four boats entered the first turn together, side by side by side, until Peabody of the Strong team in Beacon Plumbing and Dylan Runne of the Madison team in Miss HomeStreet, pulled away from the others.
Peabody and Runne continued to battle through the first lap until Runne, of Rumson, NJ, nearly collided with Peabody’s boat as they rounded the first turn of lap two. That earned him a one-lap penalty for a lane violation and handed the victory to Peabody. J. Michael Kelly of Bonney Lake, Wash., driving Beacon Electric of the Strong team, finished second.
“That was a hell of a heat, I’ll tell you that,” Peabody said when it was over. “What a heat! What a good time! That was one for the books. I’m glad we got to put on a good show. It was great for the fans. I had a blast. That’s what racing’s all about.”
In the day’s second preliminary heat, Nilsen had a perfect start aboard Legend Yacht Transport presented by The Truss Company and pulled away from Dustin Echols of Monroe, Wash., going into the first turn. Driving Flav-R-Pac, Echols had the advantage of an inside lane, but Nilsen continued to increase his lead and crossed the finish line in first place. “That was a race for sure,” he said. “This team has given me a great boat. I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did. I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”
The Columbia Cup action will wrap-up tomorrow with two sets of preliminary heats and the winner-take-all final heat. The day’s first race is scheduled for 10 a.m. PDT with the final at 4:30 p.m. Tickets to the race are still available at waterfollies.com.
Nothing can beat the thrill of watching the world’s fastest race boats in person as they hit speeds approaching 200 mpg and throw spray high into the air. If you’re not able to attend, however, you can join boat racing fans around the world who will watch the action live on the H1 Unlimited YouTube Channel. You can find the link at H1Unlimited.com.
Columbia Cup
at the Tri-Cities, Wash.
HEAT 1A — 1, Corey Peabody, Beacon Plumbing, 400 points, 152.948 avg. speed; 2, J. Michael Kelly, Beacon Electric, 300, 147.764; 3, Andrew Tate, Miss Goodman Real Estate, 225, 144.508; 4, Dylan Runne, Miss HomeStreet, 169, 143.797.
HEAT 1B — 1, Jamie Nilsen, Legend Yacht Transport presented by The Truss Company, 400, 145.895; 2, Dustin Echols, Flav-R-Pac, 300, 141.355; 3, Bobby King, Graham Trucking, 225, 131.366; Jimmy King, Griggs presents Miss Ace Hardware, DNF.
NATIONAL STANDINGS — 1, Jamie Nilsen, Legend Yacht Transport presented by The Truss Company, 2745 points; 2, J. Michael Kelly, Beacon Electric, 2674; 3, Corey Peabody, Beacon Plumbing, 2280; 4, Dustin Echols, Flav-R-Pac, 2088; 5, Dylan Runne, Miss HomeStreet, 1913; 6, Andrew Tate, Miss Goodman Real Estate, 1345; 7, Jimmy King, Griggs presents Miss Ace Hardware, 370; 8, Bobby King, Graham Trucking, 255.