KENNEWICK, Wash. – The road to the Apollo Columbia Cup championship tightened Saturday as H1 Unlimited teams completed qualifying and two rounds of heat racing on the Columbia River, setting the stage for an exciting Championship Sunday.
After posting the fastest qualifying speed of the weekend on Friday at 164.506 mph, Jimmy Shane and the U-27 Miss Apollo continued to showcase their speed throughout the day. Andrew Tate and the U-1 Miss BWR Racing remained close behind, while Dylan Runne and the U-40 Bucket List Racing continued to demonstrate impressive pace as the nine-boat field battled through four heat races. The opening round of racing produced competitive action across the fleet, with every point becoming increasingly valuable in the race to secure a spot in the championship final.
The first race saw Dylan Runne and the U-40 Bucket List Racing claim the Heat 1A victory with an average speed of 145.368 mph. Brandon Kennedy and the U-6 Goodman Real Estate presents Royer Miss Madison finished second, Jeff Bernard and U-12 Graham Trucking finished third after Jimmy Shane and Corey Peabody were each assessed one-minute jumping-the-gun penalties.
In Heat 1B, Andrew Tate and the U-1 Miss BWR Racing earned the win with an average speed of 154.586 mph. Jamie Nilsen finished second aboard the U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC, followed by J. Michael Kelly in the U-00 Maverick presents Beacon Plumbing. Gunnar O’Farrell and the U-21 Beacon Plumbing presents Ronald McDonald House were disqualified for a safety zone violation.
One of the day’s most memorable moments came in Heat 2A, where Jimmy Shane and Andrew Tate put on a thrilling battle for the lead. Shane narrowly edged Tate for the victory after the pair raced side by side for much of the heat. Jamie Nilsen finished third, followed by Jeff Bernard in the U-12 Graham Trucking and Gunnar O’Farrell in the U-21 Beacon Plumbing presents Ronald McDonald .
Heat 2B saw Corey Peabody and the U-3 Miss Tahoe presented by Beacon Plumbing take the victory, followed by J. Michael Kelly in the U-00 Maverick presented by Beacon Plumbing. Brandon Kennedy finished third in the U-6 Goodman Real Estate presents Royer Miss Madison, while Dylan Runne placed fourth in the U-40 Bucket List Racing.
Forever Fighter
We were honored to welcome Harper and Forever Fighters to the Apollo Columbia Cup today. Harper’s journey is one of incredible courage, and we’re thrilled to celebrate that she is now cancer free! 💛
Seeing her smiling in the pits and sharing this special day with our H1 Unlimited family is a reminder that some victories are even bigger than those on the water. Congratulations, Harper! We wish you a lifetime of health, happiness, and unforgettable memories.
Schedule
Championship Sunday begins with testing at 7:30 a.m., followed by Heat 3A at 10:00 a.m. Two additional rounds of heat racing will determine the five boats advancing to the Apollo Columbia Cup Final, with one trailer position completing the championship field. Adding to the excitement, Jimmy Shane and Andrew Tate enter the final day tied atop the National High Points standings, setting up a pivotal battle as both drivers look to gain the upper hand in the championship race.
