Villwock wins Madison Regatta
for eighth time in career

He becomes the winningest driver on Madison course

From the ABRA

MADISON, Ind. – Dave Villwock of Auburn, Wash., continued his winning ways July 5 by notching his 57th career victory by winning the 59th annual running of the Madison Regatta Indiana Governor’s Cup.
Villwock, piloting the U-16 Miss Elam Plus, notched a perfect weekend by posting the top qualifying speed and winning every elimination heat to set up for his championship run. This was his eighth Indiana Governor’s Cup win on this Ohio River course – the most of any unlimited driver.
“An old PR man once told me this was a grand slam,” said a jubilant Villwock.  “We won the fastest qualifying, we won every elimination heat and we won the race championship. You can't get much better than that.”
With competition from Jeff Bernard of Kent, Wash., in the U-5 Formulaboats.com to Villwocks left and the U-7 Graham Trucking boat of Jay Michael Kelly of Payallup, Wash., on the right, it looked like Villwock would have a battle on his hands. But after a tight first lap, the fluorescent orange boat pulled away to clinch the victory.
Although Villwock’s victory was almost never in doubt, a battle was ensuing for the right for a podium finish. Behind Villwock was Kelly, who usurped his teammate and last year’s Madison winner Bernard for second place.

But finishing third was hometown Madison boat, the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, driven by Steve David of Lighthouse Point, Fla.
David, who was running fourth throughout the race, caught a break when the U-3 Miss Chrysler Jeep sustained engine problems just a few hundred yards from the finish line. With the U-3, driven by Jimmy King of Wales, Mich., dead in the water, the U-1 managed to speed by for the podium finish.
Rounding out the field was the Bernard in the U-5 and Greg Hopp of Snohomish, Wash., driving the U-100 Shoreline Propellers.
Now with another Indiana Governor’s Cup in hand, Villwock hopes to carry the momentum to next week’s 100th running of the Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup in Detroit on July 11-12.