MADISON, Ind. – Saturday marked an exciting day of competition at the Madison Regatta as the prestigious APBA Gold Cup officially returned to the Ohio River. Fans were treated to close racing, impressive speed, and the successful debut of H1 Unlimited’s new race procedure and qualifying format.

Andrew Tate and the Miss BWR Racing U-1 established themselves as the team to beat early in the day. Tate set the pace in Qualifying Round 1 with the fastest lap of the session at 158.003 mph, narrowly edging Jimmy Shane and the Miss Apollo U-27, who posted 157.679 mph. The qualifying session showcased just how evenly matched the top contenders are heading into the remainder of the weekend.

Tate carried that momentum into Heat 1A, leading from the start to claim the victory ahead of J. Michael Kelly in the U-00 Maverick, while Brandon Kennedy rounded out the podium in the U-6 Royer Miss Madison.
Heat 1B belonged to Jimmy Shane and the Miss Apollo U-27. After earning Lane 3 through qualifying, Shane delivered a masterful drive to capture the win in one of the day’s most entertaining races.

The highlight of Saturday came in an intense battle between Shane and Corey Peabody in the U-3 Tahoe Miss. The two veterans traded speed and strategy throughout the heat, giving spectators one of the closest and most exciting races of the day before Shane ultimately crossed the finish line first.

With both Andrew Tate and Jimmy Shane earning heat victories and demonstrating championship-caliber speed, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the APBA Gold Cup on Sunday as the battle for one of hydroplane racing’s most coveted trophies continues.