Who's in the pits? Let's give you a quick rundown of the ten teams we have with us this weekend. The teams are listed in their order on the qualification ladder. The following times are testing times from the morning session....
The Lights look solid this morning and the sound of UL thunder is filling the pits. It's a great day to be at Seafair! Qualification results!
Schedule of Events Looking for the latest on when everything is taking place? Just click here for the same schedule. Here's the UL portion of the schedule for today... 7:30 a.m. Drivers
Physicals for the Unlimited Lights For their continued support, we would like to thank our national sponsor Texaco Corporation and M&M Markets and Deli. The Texaco Corporation is excited to be part of the automotive hydroplane racing series and is a well known supporter of previous Seafair events. M&M Markets and Deli are full service stores located in Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island ,Washington. The stores are owned by a Bellevue, Washington native who grew up on the shores of Lake Washington listening and feeling the hydros roar! Draw for Unlimited Lights Heat 1A & 1B Presented by Graham Trucking 1A - UL-929
Contour Aerospace, UL-21 Tastin' n Racin' Presents The Seafair Pirates,
UL-19
Spirit of Coeur d'Alene , 1B - UL-3
Graham Trucking, UL-72
Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic, UL-110
Miss Comp-Air, UL-40
Miss Alley Chevrolet, Unlimited Light Final Qualification Order
Unlimited Light Heat 1A & 1B Presented by Graham Trucking Heat 1A
A strong race for Vince Xaudaro (UL-929) and Dave Bender (UL-38)! Vince was off to the early lead at the start with Dave Bender close at his side. By the end of the first turn Bender had taken the lead and would stretch it out for the remainder of the race, but Vince's boat looked solid out on the water. Wally Johnston (UL-19) held third for a time during the heat but was overtaken, following a nice deck-by-deck duel, by the Jerry Hopp (UL-15). Hopp was able to power through the field and secure second by the finish. Heat 1B
Randy Haas (UL-110) and Doug Brow (UL-3) both made it away from the docks, but neither made it to the start in time to race. Haas went down just off the dock and Brow struggled on and off plane. Phil Bononcini (UL-72) was on the money at the start with Wayne Howard Jr. (UL-21) back from the leader. Bononcini stretched out the lead throughout the remainder of the heat. Speeds from Unlimited Lights Heats 1A and 1B Heat 1A
Heat 1B
Where's the UL-21 Tastin' n Racin' Presents The Seafair Pirates? During the morning test session, the UL-21 lost a belt related to the oil system. The warning light that would have told the team an oil problem existed malfunctioned and did not light. The team lost the engine as a result and has withdrawn for the weekend. Draw for Unlimited Lights Heat 2A Presented by Sicklesteel Crane & 2B Presented by Graham Trucking 2A - UL-15
Freddie's Club, UL-3
Graham Trucking,
UL-19
Spirit of Coeur d'Alene , UL-72
Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic, 2B - UL-38
Security Race Products, UL-40
Miss Alley Chevrolet, UL-14 Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping, Results from Unlimited Light Heat 2A Presented by Sicklesteel Crane & 2B Presented by Graham Trucking Heat 2A
A great race start to finish! UL-15 Freddie's Club (Hopp) and UL-72 Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic (Bononcini) put on an outstanding race for the fans. The two were side by side, trading leads and battling for first the entire time. The front runners weren't the only race on the water, the rest of the field were in contention solidly running for third. In fact, as the race continued, the battle just got closer. In the end Brow (UL-3) led over Xaudaro (UL-929) who ran right to the end to edge out Johnson (UL-19). Heat 2B
Only two boats made it out onto the water, but it was still a great race. Hass (UL-110) and Badolato (UL-40) finished within 1/10th of a mile of each other. Though Haas held the lead through much of the heat, Badolato (who jumped into the seat of the UL-40 just prior to the heat) put on a great contest for first. What happened to the other two? No word on Dennis Macy in the UL-14. They made it onto the water, but didn't leave the pit area. Heat 1A winner, Dave Bender, noticed an engine problem in the UL-38 during the last race. The subsequent repair and engine change forced them to miss the heat, but they should be solid for the final. Speeds from Unlimited Lights Heats 2A and 2B Heat 2A
Heat 2B
Unlimited Light Heat Final Presented by Graham Trucking
Speeds from the final
The UL-72 Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic takes the win in Seattle! The final ended up being the race everyone was hoping to see in Heat 1A. It was Phil Bononcini (UL-72) and Randy Haas (UL-110) going side-by-side taking the start flag just as the clock hit zero. Bononcini and Haas would put on a great run for first throughout the race pulling away from the pack. In the end, as you now know, it was Bononcini edging out the win. What happened to the UL-40 and the UL-3 during the final? Doug Brow appeared to take on water in turn one of the first lap and went down while Nick Badolato made it all the way, almost, to the end of the race going dead in the final turn. Tuff breaks for two great teams. Dennis Macy hadn't made it onto the water at all today, but the team was able to get the boat into competition when it counted. Former hull owners Greg and Jerry Hopp were right there with the UL-14 team in the period just prior to the final pitching in a hand and working to help the team make the race. Also helping the UL-14, the USA Racing Partners unlimited team! Helping Doug McIntosh's UL-14 make it onto the water didn't cause Jerry Hopp to miss a beat. During the final Hopp piloted the former Alamo hull to a third place finish looking very solid against the field. The final was also another strong showing for Vince Xaudaro and the UL-929. Throughout the day, the Contour Aerospace sponsored team looked solid and was right there in competition. Vince continues to be one to watch in the Unlimited Light ranks.
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