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Andrew Tate driving his Delta/Realtrac unlimited hydroplane won the final race of the season in San Diego Sunday. The win was his fifth in six races as his Kent-based team scored 25 percent more than his closest rival, Jimmy Shane in the Miss HomeStreet.
The HomeStreet team has won the past four championships, so this was quite an accomplishment for Mike and Lori Jones, owners of the team. They have been racing for over 20 years and this is their first unlimited National Championship.
While Tate won the season championship easily, Sunday’s race was a challenge. Tate was tied with Shane going into the final heat and the new HomeStreet boat had shown consistent, top speed superiority throughout the weekend. Due to a mechanical issue, Shane’s boat was unable to start the final.
Tom Thompson, driving the Edmonds-based J&D’a Present Reliable Diamond Tools, took up as the challenger then. He was neck and neck with Tate for almost three laps before his propeller shattered, ending his race. Owners Scott and Shannon Raney were excited about their hydroplane’s phenomenal performance but disappointed with the propeller failure.
This moved the other Edmonds-based hydroplane, Kelly Stocklin’s Bucket List Racing, into second place, where he finished. Driver Dustin Echols and the craft showed continued improvement all season long, both in reliability and speed.
Third place went to Brian Perkins, driving the Payne West Insurance hydroplane.
It was a very sad week for the Miss Rock team. The team’s owner, Stacy Briseno, was killed when hit by a vehicle in San Diego Thursday evening. Aaron Salmon and the Miss Rock team decided to race in her honor on Sunday, but the team suffered mechanical issues and didn’t have the heart to go on.
For the season-long standings, Tate ended up first and Shane was second. Edmonds was well-represented as Thompson finished third and Echols fourth in the final season-long tally.
The teams, owners and drivers now have until next May to rest, repair and rejuvenate before the 2019 season begins in Guntersville, Alabama.
— By Harry Gatjens
Thanks for the season long coverage!