Hydroplane driver Bill Muncey won a record sixth Gold Cup Sunday before an estimated 60,000 spectators sweltering in 102-degree weather.
Muncey, driving Atlas Van Lines to a fifth victory in seven races this year, drove a near flawless race to win the top prize in unlimited hydroplane racing.
Tri-City Water Follies and law enforcement officials said the crowd lining both Benton and Franklin county sides of the Columbia River was the largest in the 12 years the unlimiteds have been racing here.
Muncey, 48, surpassed Gar Wood's five straight Gold Cup triumphs (1917-1921). Already the all-time winningest unlimited driver, Muncey has 43 career victories.
Angling in from the outside lane, Muncey was off to a flying start in the championship heat and Atlas grabbed the lead before the first turn and went on to score a convincing 30-second victory over second-place Miss Budweiser, driven by Mickey Remund.
Third went to The Squire, Barney Armstrong's Machine was fourth and KYYX and Natural Light did not finish.
The Jim Lucero designed-Atlas Van Lines turned in an impressive performance setting two records and winning all four races it was in Sunday.
The shiny blue hydro also set a Gold Cup and course heat record of 114.771 m.p.h. and a Gold Cup 2 1/2 mile lap record of 124.30-m.p.h.
Muncey said what paid off was the maneuver to have perfect timing to get a flying start in the final heat.
"I had set it up with the crew three heats earlier. It requires perfect timing and when I tried it in San Diego last year, I jumped the gun and the extra lap I had to go cost me $10,000."
Earlier in the day the Miss Budweiser won over the Pay 'N Pak in the best race of the day in Heat 2C. The lead changed hands several times before the Pak bounced violently and damaged the boat and the Pak was through for the day but expects to race at Seattle Seafair next Sunday.
Miss Budweiser, which sank Friday, was repaired in Seattle in less than 48 hours and returned to the Columbia River course at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
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This Week in Auto Racing February 17 - 19
This Week in Auto Racing February 17 - 19
Sprint Cup Series
NASCAR - Sprint Cup - Budweiser Shootout at Daytona Preview
NASCAR - Sprint Cup - Budweiser Shootout at Daytona Preview
Date:
Saturday, February 18th
Start Time:
8:10 p.m. (et)
Villwock wins again in San Diego
Villwock wins again in San Diego
SAN DIEGO -- Dave Villwock won his second consecutive Air National Guard Championship at San Diego Bayfair on Sunday, sweeping through all of his heats and closing in on his first national championship in four years.
Villwock won for a record ninth time on Mission Bay and as a result his U-96 Spirit of Qatar boat has more wins than any other hull in the sport's history.
Villwock also became the sport's all-time winningest driver earlier this season in Detroit. He has 65 career victories.
HYDROS: Villwock, David win second heats in Qatar
HYDROS: Villwock, David win second heats in Qatar
Veteran drivers Dave Villwock and Steve David each won their second heat races Friday at the Oryx Cup World Championships for unlimited hydroplanes.
Villwock, whose earlier victory clinched the season championship for his team, the U-96 Spirit of Qatar, had no problem starting in lane 2 of heat 2A as he raced uncontested to the win.
Greg Hopp, starting in lane 1 in the U-100, held off Scott Liddycoat in the U-7 Valken.com and Kip Brown in the U-17 Miss Red Dot to finish second.
Liddycoat declared of hydro race in Qatar
Liddycoat declared of hydro race in Qatar
Driver Scott Liddycoat completed a magical rookie season Saturday by capturing his first unlimited hydroplane victory during a controversial finish at the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship.
Liddycoat was declared the winner by officials after they reviewed film of the start and saw that drivers Steve David, Dave Villwock and J Michael Kelly had crossed the start line early. Those drivers were given a 1-minute penalty and Liddycoat got his first career victory on the H1 Unlimited tour.
“It’s not the way I would have liked to win the first one but I’ll take it,” Liddycoat said. “This year has been unreal. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet.”
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