Steve David came away with the Dash for Cash victory in the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto. He stayed ahead of the U-50 Miss Albert Lee and driver Brian Perkins and the U-13 Graham trucking and driver J. Michael Kelly.
"Those guys had great chute speed," David said. "This is gonna be a heck of a race come Saturday and Sunday. The first turn was a mess, but I was racing with professionals out there."
David was happy to come away with the top qualifying speed of the day at 161.492 mph. He did that after Dave Villwock drove the U-1 Miss Elam Plus took the top speed in the afternoon at 161.085 mph. But then David came back out and retook the top spot.
"So far, so good," he said. "I think there's a little more there. But (coming back to top Villwock) was just like the old days. We really respect those guys and what they do."
Villwock liked the reference to the old days.
"If this was for points, it might be a different deal," Villwock said. "we're just trying to get some bugs worked out. All of the things that you have to do at the first race of the season."
Villwock said there were actually some small logs in the water on the Franklin County side up near the west end of the course.
"I was just trying to dodge them," he said.
Similar stories:
Villwock top qualifier at San Diego
Villwock top qualifier at San Diego
SAN DIEGO -- Dave Villwock took advantage of a second opportunity and was the fastest qualifier in the U-96 Spirit of Qatar on Friday at the Air National Guard San Diego Bayfair.
Villwock posted a head-turning 164.759 mph lap during qualifying, the fastest qualifying speed he's done on the Mission Bay course under the series' current fuel restrictions.
It looked as if rival driver Steve David -- in the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto -- would earn the fastest qualifying speed on the day, but Vilwock and his team opted for a second attempt.
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.
Enumclaw's Kahne drives out of winless skid
Enumclaw's Kahne drives out of winless skid
AVONDALE, Ariz. -- While Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart have gone round-for-round in their race for the Sprint Cup title, Kasey Kahne has quietly turned his performance up a notch outside of the championship spotlight.
Kahne's performance the last nine weeks has trailed only the two title contenders, and on Sunday, he finally got a win to show for his efforts.
The Enumclaw native snapped an 81-race winless streak with his victory at Phoenix International Raceway, where Edwards and Stewart finished second and third to keep the title race tight headed into next weekend's season finale.
Hydros arrive in Qatar with new starting rules
Hydros arrive in Qatar with new starting rules
What's it like trying to race an unlimited hydroplane in the Middle East?
Steve David will tell you it's not easy.
Forget about the fact he completely flipped his U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto two years ago during the Oryx Cup World Championships in Doha, Qatar, landing right-side up, only to turn the ignition on and limp the boat back to the pits.
HYDROS: David steers Oberto to Oryx Cup title
HYDROS: David steers Oberto to Oryx Cup title
Steve David and the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto may not have defended their national high points championship, but at least they finished the season on a winning note.
David, running from lane 3, hit the start-finish line almost perfectly and was never threatened after that in the 5-lap final of the Oryx Cup World Championship unlimited hydroplane race Saturday in Doha, Qatar.
Rookie Scott Liddycoat, driving the U-7 Valken.com, had the inside lane in the seven-boat final. But he couldn't overtake David. Liddycoat still finished second.
Print
Email Story
