‘Breakthrough day.’ Tri-Cities hydroplanes finish 1-2 in hometown Columbia Cup victory
Darrell Strong couldn’t have asked for a better scenario.
The insurance salesman from the Tri-Cities, who bough two boats in the offseason, got a 1-2 finish in his hometown race, the HAPO Columbia Cup, on Sunday.
“I didn’t think it would happen here this soon,” said Strong. “Not with the way Jimmy Shane was driving his boat.”
But it did.
And it happened with Corey Peabody in the U-9 Pinnacle Peak Racing boat winning.
It was Peabody’s first H1 Unlimited victory.
Veteran driver J. Michael Kelly, driving Strong’s U-8 Miss Tri-Cities boat, has 12 career H1 Unlimited victories. He finished second.
“I think we had a breakthrough today with Corey,” said Strong. “Our guy is gonna be a star.”
After the win, Peabody got the boat back to Lampson Pits, crawled on top of it and celebrated.
Then he got the star treatment, being thrown into the Columbia River by his teammates.
Brian Hajny, the crew chief for both Strong boats, was emotional after the win.
It was he and Peabody who were assigned in the offseason by Strong to put the teams together.
“This is what it’s all about,” said Hajny. “It’s been a lot of work.”
While he said that, Hajny started eyeing the big tree — Bernie Little’s tree — at the east end of Lampson Pits.
The winner gets to park their boat under that tree the next season, basking in the cool shade during race weekend.
“We get to fill it with two boats,” said Hajny.
To finish 1 and 2 was a dream for Hajny, who stresses that while everyone is a teammate, there is no collusion on the course.
“Corey and Mike are there to race each other,” said Hajny. “When it’s out on the water, it’s every man for themselves.”
The key to Peabody’s win may have been the start.
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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.
