The 2021 H1 Unlimited season is the sixty-fifth running of the H1 Unlimited series for unlimited hydroplanes, sanctioned by the APBA. The 2020 season would have been the sixty-fifth running but that season was cancelled because of COVID-19.
Teams and drivers +2021 TeamsNoBoatEngineOwnerDriverU-1Goodman Real Estate/Miss HomeStreetLycoming T-55/L-7City of MadisonJeff Bernard and Jimmy ShaneU-3ṪGrigg's Presents Ace HardwareTurbocharged V-12 AllisonEd CooperJimmy KingU-8Miss Tri-CitiesLycoming T-55/L-7Darrell & Vanessa StrongJ. Michael KellyU-9Pinnacle Peak ConsultingLycoming T-55/L-7Darrell & Vanessa StrongCorey PeabodyU-11J&D's HydraulicLycoming T-55/L-7Scott and Shannon RaneyJamie NilsenU-12Graham TruckingLycoming T-55/L-7Rob Graham Andrew TateU-40Beacon PlumbingLycoming T-55/L-7Kelly and Sharon StocklinDave VillwockU-440Martin Nelson & Co.Lycoming T-53Kelly and Sharon StocklinDustin Echols and Kelly Stocklin Note: Ṫ—The U-3 is the only piston powered boat in the fleet, powered by a dual turbocharged Allison V-12.
Summary The 2021 opened with the Guntersville Lake Hydrofest held at Guntersville, AL on June 26–27. J. Michael Kelly took home the Southern Cup Trophy for First Place Driver.
The second race was the APBA Gold Cup held at the Madison, IN Regatta on July 2–4. Jimmy Shane, driving Miss HomeStreet, captured his fifth Gold Cup victory Sunday in H1 Unlimited Racing Series on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana. His victory in the 111th running of the event was the fifth in his career, putting him fourth on the list of all-time Gold Cup champions, tied with the legendary Gar Wood. Shane grabbed the inside lane at the start of the winner-take-all final heat and was never challenged. Andrew Tate, driving Graham Trucking, took second in the final heat and third-place honors went to Corey Peabody, driving Pinnacle Peak Consulting.
The third race was the HAPO Columbia Cup held at Tri-Cities, WA on July 23–25. Corey Peabody in the U-9 Pinnacle Peak Racing boat finished first. It's Peabody's first H1 Unlimited victory. J. Michael Kelly, driving the U-8 Miss Tri-Cities boat, finished second. Jimmy Shane, driving Miss HomeStreet, was forced to grab lane 5 on the outside before the race began and finished third.
The fourth and final race of the season was the San Diego Bayfair on September 17–19. On Saturday, September 18, Jimmy Shane drove the U-1 HomeStreet Bank to two heat wins to clinch the team national high points championship. In Sunday's final, J. Michael Kelly driving the U-8 Miss Tri-Cities is won the 2021 Bill Muncey Cup on Mission Bay and also won the National Drivers High Point Championship. Kelly was awarded the victory in San Diego after it was determined that Dave Villwock in the U-40 Beacon Plumbing — after crossing the finish line first in the final — was disqualified for going under 80 mph in the pre-race setup period. Because he jumped the gun, the U-1 Miss Homestreet driven by Jimmy Shane was given a one lap penalty. Shane was awarded second.
Season schedule and results +2021 Season Schedule and ResultsRace titleLocationDateWinning boatWinning driverGuntersville Lake HydrofestGuntersville, AlabamaJune 26–27U-8 Miss Tri-CitiesJ. Michael KellyAPBA Gold Cup at the Madison RegattaOhio River, Madison, IndianaJuly 2–4U-1 HomeStreet presents Miss Goodman Real EstateJimmy ShaneHAPO Columbia CupColumbia River, Tri-Cities, WashingtonJuly 23–25U-9 Pinnacle Peak ConsultingCorey PeabodySan Diego BayfairMission Bay, San Diego, California, CaliforniaSeptember 17–19U-8 Miss Tri-CitiesJ. Michael Kelly Both the HomeStreet Bank Cup and Detroit Hydrofest were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
National High Points Standings +National High Points ResultsNoBoatDriverGuntersvilleMadisonTri-CitiesSan DiegoDriver TotalTeam TotalU-1Miss Madison Jimmy Shane3001,6001,9251,6005,4256,454Jeff Bernard1,029———1,029U-8Miss Tri-CitiesJ. Michael Kelly1,5807501,7051,5705,6055,605U-9Pinnacle Peak ConsultingCorey Peabody1,1009751,3888104,2734,273U-12Graham TruckingAndrew Tate9251,500955—3,3803,380U-40Beacon PlumbingDave Villwock2951,0277971,0803,1993,199U-11J&D's HydraulicJamie Nilsen8254691,323502,6672,667U-3Grigg's Presents Ace HardwareJimmy King——790—790790U-440Martin Nelson & Co.Dustin Echols0—649—649649Kelly Stocklin———00
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