Peabody wins hydroplane event in the Tri-Cities

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Corey Peabody drove Pinnacle Peak Consulting from behind during the last lap of the final heat and won the 2021 HAPO Columbia Cup on Sunday on the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities.

It was the third stop of the H1 Unlimited Racing Series, which features the fastest race boats in the world.

The event was dominated by Jimmy Shane, 35, of Covington, Wash., during most of the day, winning each of his preliminary heats driving Miss HomeStreet and being the fastest qualifier. But, in the winner-take-all final, he found himself caught behind the others at the start and could never catch up.

The start instead belonged to Peabody, 42, of Kent, Wash., and J. Michael Kelly in Miss Tri-Cities, his teammate on the Strong Racing Team and a friend since they were in grade school together. Kelly, 42, of Bonney Lake, Wash., held the lead through most of the heat but his boat received damage to its rear wing and Peabody was able to get past him during the final lap.

The victory was the first in Peabody’s career driving in the H1 Unlimited Racing Series. The victory also gave his team its second one-two finish of the season. Kelly was the winner in Guntersville, Ala., while Peabody placed second. The Strong Racing Team is new to the H1 Unlimited circuit this season.

Kelly finished the final in second place, followed by Shane in third. Dave Villwock, 67, the sport’s greatest champion, finished in fifth place driving Miss Beacon Plumbing.

The H1 Unlimited Racing Series would typically follow its popular stop in the Tri-Cities with an event in Seattle, but that race was canceled earlier in the year because the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the planning necessary to hold the event. The next race on the schedule will be held in San Diego on Sept. 17-19.

HEAT 3A—1, Jimmy Shane, Miss HomeStreet, 400 points, 153.409 avg. speed; 2, Jimmy King, Griggs Ace Hardware, 300, 144.037; 3, Dustin Echols, Bucket List Racing, 225, 118.496; Dave Villwock, Miss Beacon Plumbing, 0, DSQ.

HEAT 3B—1, J. Michael Kelly, Miss Tri-Cities, 400, 150.370; 2, Corey Peabody, Pinnacle Peak Consulting, 300, 688; 3, Andrew Tate, Graham Trucking, 225, 147.073; 4, Jamie Nilsen, J&D’s, 169, 139.646.

HEAT 4A—1, Jimmy Shane, Miss HomeStreet, 400, 145.638; 2, Dave Villwock, Miss Beacon Plumbing, 169, 140.392; 3, Jimmy King, Griggs Ace Hardware, 300, 136.312; 4, Dustin Echols, Bucket List Racing, 225, 117.995.

HEAT 4B—1, Jamie Nilsen, J&D’s, 400, 151.369; 2, Corey Peabody, Pinnacle Peak Consulting, 300, 149.100; 3, J. Michael Kelly, Miss Tri-Cities, 225, 128.137; Andrew Tate, Graham Trucking, 0, DSQ.

FINAL HEAT—1, Corey Peabody, Pinnacle Peak Consulting, 400, 145.686; 2, J. Michael Kelly, Miss Tri-Cities, 300, 141.909; 3, Jimmy Shane, Miss HomeStreet, 225, 141.069; 4, Jamie Nilsen, J&D’s, 169, 136.187; 5, Dave Villwock, Beacon Plumbing, 127, 134.825; Jimmy King, Griggs Ace Hardware, 0, DNF; Andrew Tate, Graham Trucking, 0, DNF.

ACCUMULATED POINTS—Jimmy Shane, Miss HomeStreet, 1925; J. Michael Kelly, Miss Tri-Cities, 1705; Corey Peabody, Pinnacle Peak Consulting, 1388; Jamie Nilsen, J&D’s, 1323; Andrew Tate, Graham Trucking, 955; Dave Villwock, Beacon Plumbing, 797; Jimmy King, Griggs Ace Hardware, 790; Dustin Echols, Bucket List Racing, 649.

NATIONAL STANDINGS (DRIVERS)—1, J. Michael Kelly, Bonney Lake, Wash., 4035; 2, Jimmy Shane, Covington, Wash., 3825; 3, Corey Peabody, Kent, Wash., 3463; 4, Andrew Tate, Canton, Mich., 3380; 5, Jamie Nilsen, Gig Harbor, Wash., 2617; 6, Dave Villwock, Monroe, Wash., 2119; 7, Jeff Bernard, Kent, Wash., 1029; 8, Jimmy King, Memphis, Mich., 790; 9, Dustin Echols, Monroe, Wash., 649.

NATIONAL STANDINGS (BOATS)—1, Miss HomeStreet, 4854; 2, Miss Tri-Cities, 4035; 3, Pinnacle Peak Consulting, 3463; 4, Graham Trucking, 3380; 5, J&D’s, 2617; 6, Miss Beacon Plumbing, 2119; 7, Griggs Ace Hardware, 790; 8, Bucket List Racing, 649.