Jimmy Shane sweeps weekend, brings home 112th Gold Cup Trophy

By: Owen Blauman | H1 Unlimited Reporter | Jul 12, 2019

The U-6 "Miss HomeStreet/Miss Madison" and driver Jimmy Shane from Maple Valley, Wash. had a perfect weekend, winning the 112th American Power Boat Association's Gold Cup trophy during the Madison Regatta on the Ohio River. Shane drove the hometown-owned hydroplane to victory in front of an estimated 30,000 fans that were on their feet, screaming from the riverbanks for Shane to win.

Shane began his weekend as the top qualifier among the world's seven fastest race boats. He won each of the four preliminary heats and powerboat racing's pinnacle trophy.Today's win by Shane makes it his fourth Gold Cup win in his 12 years driving in the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series.The July 7 win also etches his team, Miss Madison Racing, into the record books with four Gold Cup wins - all but one with Shane at the wheel. The team's first Gold Cup trophy win came in 1971 when the team won in their hometown with driver Jim McCormick.

Last year's Gold Cup winner, Andrew Tate in the U-1 "Delta/RealTrac," took an early lead, followed closely by Shane. In the backstretch, Tate increased his lead over Shane and the U-7 "Spirit of Detroit" driven by Bert Henderson, U-11 "J&D's Reliable Diamond Tool" pilot Tom Thompson, and the U-12 "Graham Trucking" with J. Michael Kelly in the cockpit during the six-lap championship final.

"We really didn't want to be in lane one, but the opportunity presented itself. I knew the boat was getting through that corner really well, better than all the other boats, so I took a chance, I took a risk," Shane said. "Andrew beat me to lane one and had a head of steam going to the finish line. But Mike (J. Michael Kelly) gave me some legs and I was able to get it into the first turn."

In the first turn of lap two, Tate was in the lead. Suddenly his boat fell into a huge hole on the racecourse that turned him hard left, slowing him enough for Shane to pull in front exiting the turn. Shane pulled ahead by 1-1/2 roostertails. Henderson followed Tate nearly five roostertails. There was no looking back for Shane during the remaining three laps.Tate ended up crossing the finish line second but officials ruled he jumped the gun, adding a one-minute penalty to his final finish time. Henderson in the "Spirit of Detroit" finished third but moved up to second after the ruling against Tate.Third place went to Kelly in the U-12 "Graham Trucking." Thompson finished fourth and Tate finished fifth. Rookie Corey Peabody was unable to start his U-98 "Graham Trucking American Dream" hydroplane.

"I am honored to get a win here at Madison. It means a lot for me, but I'm more happy for the fans on the shoreline," Shane said after winning. "This means the world to them and I'm just ecstatic that they're able to experience this. Forty-eight years later, and their grandchildren get to experience what they got to experience in 1971. It's just an honor to be a part of it," Shane said.

There was a bit of good news for Tate: he did have the fastest lap in the final, averaging 146.053 mph in lap one.

The H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing series moves west July 26-28, 2019 in Kennewick, Washington, followed by Seattle August 2-4, 2019.

112th Running of the Madison Regatta Gold Cup Championship Final

1) U-6 "Miss HomeStreet/Miss Madison", Jimmy Shane, 135.046 mph

2) U-7 "Spirit of Detroit", Bert Henderson, 126.76 mph

3) U-12 "Graham Trucking", J. Michael Kelly, 125.165 mph

4) J&D's Reliable Diamond Tool, Tom Thompson, 111.524 mph

5) U-1 "Delta/RealTrac" Andrew Tate, 109.09 mph

DNS "U-98 "Graham Trucking American Dream", Corey Peabody

Preliminary Heat 3A Results

1) U-1 "Delta/RealTrac, Tate 128.731 mph Average

2) U-98 "American Dream," Peabody, 115.68 mph average

3) U-440 "Bucket List Racing", Dustin Echols, 105.668 mph average

4) U-7 "Spirit of Detroit," Henderson, 100.256 mph average

U-7 one minute penalty, jumped the gun

Preliminary Heat 3B Results

1) U-6 "Miss HomeStreet/Miss Madison, Shane, 131.482 mph average

2) U-11 "J&D's presented by Reliable Diamond Tool, Thompson, 124.185 mph average

Disqualified U-12 "Graham Trucking," Kelly, level three penalty for striking buoy, DSQ for entering safety zone, one minute penalty + $350 fine

Preliminary Heat 4A Results

1) U-1 "Delta/RelaTrac, Tate, 135.605 mph average

2) U-12 "Graham Trucking, Kelly, 132.854 mph average

3) U-7 "Spirit of Detroit," Henderson, 128.249 mph average

DNF U-440 "Bucket List Racing," Echols

Preliminary Heat 4B Results

1) U-6 "Miss HomeStreet," Shane, 126.111 mph average

2) "U-11 "J&D's, Thompson, 123.977 mph average

3) U-98 "American Dream," Peabody, 110.448 mph average

U-98 "American Dream," level one penalty, did not maintain 10 spacing in turn one, $250 fine.

Jimmy Shane sweeps weekend, brings home 112th Gold Cup Trophy

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