KENNEWICK -- There really weren't any surprises Saturday in the first two heat races of the Graham Trucking Thunder Cup on the Columbia River.
Two of the top Unlimited Lights drivers on the circuit, Kayleigh Perkins and Greg Hopp, roared to victory in their respective races.
"I'm so happy I finished a race in the Tri-Cities," said Perkins, 21, who failed to race here last year when the only engine she had broke in testing. However, in May of 2008 Perkins did race in Richland.
This time she won in the UL-72 Foster Care-Change A Lifetime.
Perkins caught a break when Paul Becker -- one of her toughest competitors in the UL-14 Miss Critical Logic -- got to the score-up area too soon and incurred a
1-minute penalty.
"On the first lap my dad radioed me," Perkins said. "But you don't really count on the penalties until you get back to the dock. Either way, I was gonna race against Paul and give the crowd a show. It's better to be safe than sorry."
Tri-Citian Charles Xaudaro finished second in the UL-98 Miss Atomic Screenprinting.
"I still think we have more power," he said. "I got behind some boats, and it's a lot rougher driving from behind with that water. It's a lot easier if you get to the corner first."
Meanwhile, Hopp -- driving in the UL-1 Graham Trucking-Happy Go Lucky-Pump Tech -- dueled with UL-19 Interstate Batteries driver Ryan Mallow for 2 1/2 laps before Mallow's boat went dead in the water.
"We knew Ryan was going to be the one to beat," said Hopp. "We're still fighting our (dropping) oil pressure. Every time it dropped I slowed down, and he kept sticking his nose in there and I'd have to speed up. Being on the inside helped."
Vince Xaudaro, Charles' brother, placed second in the UL-9 U.S. Army-Napa Auto Parts.
"The boat ran solid," said Xaudaro. "I don't think I could have run any better than that. There's nothing else I could have done."
Today's racing continues with two more preliminary heats, a B main and the final set for 4:40 p.m. The top six boats who compiled points in the preliminaries make the final, joined by the top two boats from the B main.
Similar stories:
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Unlimited hydroplanes update
Unlimited hydroplanes update
Here’s a quick update on the H1 Unlimiteds, which of course race here in the Tri-Cities every July.
Dave Villwock, who drives the U-96 Spirit of Qatar, has already clinched the drivers championship with just one race left — the Oryx Cup UIM Championship on Nov. 17-19 in Doha, Qatar.
The boat itself has not clinched the title, but should do so in Qatar.
Print
Email Story
