Stunning, record-setting upset in race for Apollo ABP hydroplane Gold Cup

Dave Villwock has always been a master of getting his timing marks down when it comes to starting an unlimited hydroplane race.

He has had charts on the Columbia River for decades, knowing exactly where he needs to be and at what time before a race starts.

On Sunday, Villwock was only two of five front-line drivers who did not cross the starting line early, and he ended up winning the Apollo APBA Gold Cup on the Columbia River.

It ends up being Villwock’s 11th career Gold Cup victory, which ties Chip Hanauer with the most Gold Cup victories.

“I could remember when I went to work (as a crew chief) with Chip Hanauer, and he had 46 victories at the time,” said an emotional Villwock, the driver of Bruce Ratchford’s BWR Racing U-27 Miss Apollo. “I thought it was incredible.”

Sunday’s win is also career victory No. 68 for Villwock, 71, in unlimited hydroplane racing. He is the sports’ all-time leader in wins.

His last victory before this? Try 2012 at the Detroit Gold Cup.

On Sunday, Villwock said something to his crew chief, Taylor Evans, before the final. Evans had just recently been promoted to crew chief for Villwock.

“I said ‘Time to make some magic,’” said Villwock.

But it took awhile after the final for H1 Unlimited officials to declare Villwock the winner. They had a lot of things to sort out, and the problems all began at the start of the 5-lap final.

Villwock was one of five drivers on the final front line, and he was in lane 4.

Gunnar O’Farrell, in the U-21 Spirit of America, was on the outside lane 5 in the final, and he began to speed up just before the start, trying to nail it down.

What it did was bring along J. Michael Kelly in the U-8 Miss Beacon Electric (in Lane 1), and Corey Peabody in the U-9 Miss Beacon Plumbing (in Lane 3).

Replays show that the 21, 8 and 9 all crossed the starting line too early, invoking 1-minute penalties.

That meant that Jamie Nilsen, driving the U-11 FLAV-R-PAC, was the first legal boat to cross the start line.

Villwock was right behind. In essence, he and Nilsen actually nailed the start.

And way, way back was Andrew Tate in the U-91 Goodman Real Estate. The U-91 was the trailer boat for the final, and he had to start 5 seconds behind the front line.

Tate came into this weekend the leader in the national high points championship race, and he was the fastest qualifier here on Friday.

So having start was back as the trailer because he didn’t score enough points in the four preliminary heats essentially put the heavy favorite out of contention.

“Not my best effort. Not by best day,” said Tate.

What fans saw on the shoreline was a battle for five laps between Kelly and Peabody, teammates for the Strong Racing team.

Fans were aware that at least one boat had crossed too early. No one was sure which one, though.

So while everyone concentrated on the 8 and 9, Villwock worked his way up, getting past Nilsen to actually take the lead in a stealth-like manner.

By the time everyone crossed the finish line, there were a lot of questions to be answered.

Mainly, who won?

Nilsen arrived at the dock with everyone celebrating for him.

But he hadn’t won.

Later, Nilsen said, “That’s racing. We’ll be back. We’ll take another swing at it. And we’ll get (the Gold Cup trophy) some day.”

The celebration was confusing, but Villwock had finished ahead of Nilsen, giving Kennewick’s Bruce Ratchford his first Gold Cup victory and his second win in as many starts since becoming the owner of the U-27 and U-91 boats.

Villwock turned and looked at Ratchford at the awards ceremony.

“I am so lucky to race with an old sheet metal worker, just like me,” Villwock told Ratchford. “Bruce shares that message of family and excellence. This is a group that looks after each other.”

Ratchford then took the microphone.

“This is all about people. Always,” said Ratchford, who then looked over at the young crew chief, Taylor Evans. “Taylor Evans, you are a good crew chief.”

Peabody, after the penalty, finished fourth; while Kelly was fifth, and O’Farrell sixth.

Villwock has seen a lot of first-place finishes in his time.

But Sunday’s win might be one of his sweetest.

“It’ll be fun to grab on to that Gold Cup again,” he said. It’s been a while.”

Jeff Morrow if former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.

This story was originally published July 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM.