RICHLAND, Wash. — H1 Unlimited honored the volunteers, officials, crews and drivers behind its 2026 hydroplane racing season on Saturday, November 14, at the REACH Museum in Richland. Brad Luce hosted the annual banquet, where honorees ranged from a referee known for lending a hand between heats to a crew chief whose team erased a 400-point deficit to win a national championship.

Volunteer of the Year honors went to H1 referee Matt Yarno. The award recognizes the time and service volunteers give to keep race weekends running. Yarno helped oversee fair competition and coordinate safety throughout testing, qualifying and racing. His fellow officials also knew they could count on him for an airport ride or a last-minute errand. Away from the H1 circuit, he continued to serve the sport through APBA Region 10 and the Seattle Outboard Association.

Dave White, H1’s director of water safety, received the Official of the Year Award for his leadership on the water. In 12 years with H1 Unlimited, White has led the team that conducts driver capsule training and coordinates the divers, medics and rescue crews who cover the course. Their work begins well before the first boat launches, so help is in position every time a driver leaves the dock.

The Race Site Ambassador Award recognizes someone who shares the practical knowledge it takes to host a hydroplane race. Aaron Stephens of Tri-City Water Follies began volunteering at local races as a child. Years of handling race-week responsibilities in the Tri-Cities and at other venues have made him someone organizers can turn to when they are considering bringing H1 Unlimited to their own community.

The Crew of the Year Award recognizes the people who prepare a boat, diagnose problems and find the speed a driver needs to compete. For Unlimited Racing Group, the crew of the U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC, the clearest example came at the Columbia Cup. After a difficult Gold Cup weekend in Madison, the U-11 qualified in the Tri-Cities at 160.656 mph, about eight mph faster than the year before. The boat went on to finish second in Heat 1B and win Heat 4B.

Michael Hanson of BWR Racing earned Crew Chief of the Year for leading the U-1’s championship comeback. His team trailed its BWR teammate by 400 points halfway through the season. A win in Seattle narrowed the gap to 180, and a victory in San Diego secured the title. It was Hanson’s 10th National High Points team championship as a crew chief, tying him with Ron Brown of Miss Budweiser for the most in series history.

BWR Racing’s U-1 driver Andrew Tate and spotter James Geblein shared the Clock Breaker Award for timing their starts more accurately than any other crew during the 2026 season. The award highlighted a partnership fans rarely hear. Over the radio, Geblein called the countdown and relayed what he saw on the course, helping Tate time his approach so the U-1 crossed the line as close as possible to the official start.

The Steve Montgomery Excellence in Media Award honors exceptional coverage of hydroplane racing and carries the name of one of the sport’s longtime voices. This year’s recipient, pit camera operator Mickey Washburn, joined the broadcast crew without camera experience. He studied decades of race footage to learn how earlier crews covered the sport. His work gave viewers a place on the dock as drivers climbed out of their boats and crews reacted to the heat they had just raced.

The Outstanding Contribution Award recognizes an individual whose work made a difference to the sport during the season. Dustin Echols earned the honor for bringing a driver’s perspective to the H1 livestream. Working alongside Luce, Echols helped fans understand the decisions drivers were making as the racing unfolded. During the San Diego finale, the broadcast surpassed 500,000 live views in a single season for the first time.

The Kelly family received the inaugural Hydroplane Heritage Award, established to honor those who pass the sport’s knowledge and traditions from one generation to the next. Generations of Kelly family members have worked in the pits, volunteered at race sites across the country and mentored young racers learning their way around a boat.

The inaugural Making Waves Award went to Dylan Runne of Bucket List Racing. The award recognizes a competitor who challenges expectations on the water and takes a leadership role in promoting hydroplane racing. Before the first race of 2026, Runne represented H1 at Seattle’s Seafair kickoff on Pier 62. The third-generation racer then won his opening heat at the Columbia Cup and, back in Seattle, earned a podium spot in a photo finish.

National championship honors recognized the driver and team that accumulated the most points over the season. The title came down to the final heat in San Diego, where Andrew Tate secured the Bill Muncey National High Points Driver Championship with 6,649 points. It was his fourth career title and third in a row. His U-1 BWR Racing crew earned the Martini & Rossi National High Points Team Championship.

BWR teammate Jimmy Shane finished second aboard the U-27 Miss Apollo with 6,134 points, after winning his sixth APBA Gold Cup in Madison and the Apollo Columbia Cup in the Tri-Cities. Corey Peabody and Strong Racing’s U-3 Tahoe Miss placed third with 5,136 points.

H1 Unlimited congratulates this year’s honorees and thanks the volunteers, teams, race organizers, partners and fans who made the 2026 season possible. We look forward to seeing you back on the water and along the shoreline in 2027!