HYDROS: Villwock takes Gold Cup, sets record with 63 career wins

DETROIT -- Dave Villwock has become the hydroplane series' all-time winningest driver with a victory at the Gold Cup in Detroit.

Villwock overcame some early adversity by notching his 63rd career race victory Sunday on the Detroit River.

The 57-year-old collected his ninth Gold Cup trophy and his fourth consecutive. He breaks a mark held by Bill Muncey, who had 62 career victories and eight Gold Cup wins. Muncey died in 1981.

Once known as the APBA, the series now is called the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series.

The next stop on the six-race circuit is the Columbia Cup in Kennewick, Wash., on July 29-31.

Villwock had a speed of 138.807 mph. Scott Liddycoat was second at 131.360 mph, followed by Jeff Bernard at 129.239 mph.

Villwock, a native of Port Orchard, Wash., has won 50 percent of the races he's entered -- 63-of-126.

One of the few records left for Villwock to break is Chip Hanauer's mark of 11 Gold Cup titles.

This story was originally published July 10, 2011 at 4:03 PM with the headline "HYDROS: Villwock takes Gold Cup, sets record with 63 career wins."