Speedweek: First hydroplane races
in state a success
CHAMBERLAIN — A full
field of Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association race boats and a
contingent of NACCS Thunderboats, watched by a huge crowd of spectators made
the first-ever Pepsi Racing Power Cup Challenge, staged on the Missouri River
at Chamberlain-Oacoma a success.
In spite of wind
gusts near 40 miles per hour which forced officials to shut down racing early
Saturday, about 5,000 spectators turned out for the first-ever hydroplane races
in South Dakota, according to the ULHRA Web site.
Races were completed under near-perfect weather conditions Sunday.
Kayleigh Perkins, of Seattle, inherited the early lead in Sunday’s Pepsi Racing
Power Cup finale when the boats of Paul Becker, of Bellevue, Wash., and J.
Craig Fletcher, of Mercer Island, Wash., were both early crossing the start
line.
Perkins, defending ULHRA series champion, used the slowing boat of Mike Sadlon,
of Vero Beach, Fla., as a pick to force Greg Hopp, of Snohomish, Wash., to the
outside of the final turn on the 1-1/4 mile Missouri River oval and hang on for
the win. Hopp had closed to within three boats length of Perkins’ UL-92 going
into the final lap.
Marty Wolfe, of
Wolfe had trailed Dustin Echols, of
The