Kelly repeats as Indiana Governor’s Cup champion | Hydros

J. Michael Kelly in the Graham Trucking boat won the Indiana Governor's Cup H1 Unlimited Hydroplane race Sunday, pulling away from second-place finisher Jimmy Shane, of Covington, in the Oberto on the first lap of the winner-take-all championship.

  • BY Wire Service
  • Monday, July 6, 2015 1:28am
  • Sports
J. Michael Kelly

J. Michael Kelly

For the Reporter

J. Michael Kelly in the Graham Trucking boat won the Indiana Governor’s Cup H1 Unlimited Hydroplane race Sunday, pulling away from second-place finisher Jimmy Shane, of Covington, in the Oberto on the first lap of the winner-take-all championship.

Kelly, of Bonney Lake, averaged 141.818 mph on the Ohio River to take the title and ran a 144.701 on the first lap to secure the position. The win at Madison, Ind., was the second consecutive Governor’s Cup title for Kelly.

“We were lucky just to make the final heat,” said Kelly, who won his sixth overall race on the national circuit. “We broke the front canard of the boat in the final preliminary heat and the team worked hard to get it back together.

“I don’t know how they did it, but it held together, and we were able to get the win.”

Kelly broke the canard in the second preliminary heat exiting turn one of the second lap in heat 2B. The broken canard allowed Shane in the Oberto to catch the Graham Trucking boat in that heat. But in the championship final, Kelly grabbed the lead from lane one after a perfect start and led from wire to wire.

Shane took second in the final while West Seattle’s Jesse Robertson in Graham Trucking II placed third. Tom Thompson in the Peters & May hydro did not start. Thompson’s boat was damaged prior to the start after hitting a piece of floating wood.

It was a wild weekend for the unlimited hydroplane teams and the drivers. Of the 11 boats that made the trip to Madison, only five boats raced due to the debris-ridden Ohio River. The change also required a change in the racing format. A two-boat, three-lap shootout for all four preliminary heats led to the championship winner-take-all final.

“We have been discussing for many years a way to race on smaller bodies of water,” said Steve David, H1 Unlimited chairman. “With the amount of debris in the water, this gave us an opportunity to test the three-lap shootout format.

“This format will open up other possibilities for new race sites on the H1 circuit.”

In the final heat, the boats also drew for starting positions instead of the pre-starting gun battle for lane positions. Kelly had lane one while Shane had lane two.

“The lane position draw helped me quite a bit, having the inside on lane one on the Oberto is always important but it also tough,” said Kelly. “I knew I had to hold that lane and get through the rollers in turn one if I even had a chance to win. I knew if I did that I could take control of the race.”

And that he did.

INDIANA GOVERNOR’S CUP FINAL STANDINGS

1. Graham Trucking, J. Michael Kelly, 141.818

2. Oberto, Jimmy Shane, 139.724

3. Graham Trucking, Jessie Robertson, 125.317

DNS – Peters and May, Tom Thompson

DNS – Miss DiJulio, Patrick Sankuer

Fastest Lap – J. Michael Kelly, Lap 1, Final heat, 144.701 mph


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentwood

Dayna Vi (Jr.) wrestling and Brandon Tagle (Jr.) basketball take home this weeks awards.

Kentwood’s Jessica Ajayi dribbles the ball up the floor. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood girls basketball drops fourth straight

Team falls to Riverside for first time since 2017. Head Coach Jordan Nero: ‘We’ll find a way, we always do.’

t
Hundreds participate in Kent Christmas Rush run/walk

Seattle’s Nathan Morrisson wins 10K; Kent’s Travis Houser captures 5K

Graphic provided by KSD.
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentridge

Genesis Miller (Flag Football) and Gio Moimoi (Basketball) take home this weeks award.

Veronica Garcia gives an interview after winning the 2A girls 400-meter final at the 2024 Washington State Championships at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Screenshot from Runnerspace.com video)
Proposals seek new rules for transgender athletes in WA schools

Other proposals target student-athlete transfer rules and girls flag football.

Tyanna Sims drives to the basket against Auburn in the loss. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Trojans sweep aside Kentwood in doubleheader

Both boys and girls basketball teams lose to Auburn in NPSL opening play.

Kentridge girls soccer surprised the three signees at Kentridge. Photo provided by @ETDPI on Instagram.
National Signing Day for Kentridge | Photos

Four Chargers offically signed to play college sports.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Athlete of the Week for Nov. 22: Kentwood

Nick Greutman (tennis) and Rowan Parsons (swim and dive) take home this weeks honors.

Kentridge senior Sierra Wallace dribbles the ball against Woodinville. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer falls 4-0 in state

Chargers make round of eight for second time ever and run into Woodinville buzzsaw.

Senior running back Antoine Lee avoids a Trojan defender early in the game against Auburn. Ben Ray / The Reporter
4A NPSL all-league football teams announced

Kentwood’s Antoine Lee named Offensive Player of the Year.

Photo provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentridge

Addison Stendera and Riley Tricas take home this weeks awards.

Makenna Bennett in action against Tahoma back on Oct. 22 at Kentridge. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer advances to state

Chargers make state for second consecutive year, take on Wenatchee.