Covington’s Jimmy Shane and the Miss HomeStreet unlimited hydroplane team have been declared winners of the disputed HAPO Columbia Cup on July 31.
Miss Madison Inc., the hydro team’s ownership group, received notification on Dec. 7 from Charles D. Strang, APBA (American Power Boat Association) national commissioner, that the race team’s August appeal and request for a review of the final heat and race results of the Columbia Cup were completed and declared the HomeStreet Bank team the winner of the Kennewick race.
“We are very pleased with this result,” said Charlie Grooms, president of Miss Madison Inc., in a statement released Tuesday. “Mr. Strang conducted an exhaustive evaluation of the final heat, including discussions with race officials, review of data presented by Miss Madison Inc. and others, and examination of the applicable rules. Mr Strang concluded that the final race results should be corrected to reflect Jimmy Shane and the HomeStreet Bank Unlimited Hydroplane as the winner of the 2016 HAPO Columbia Cup.”
Back on July 31, Shane, driving the U-1 Miss Homestreet Bank boat, was first over the line in the winner-take-all championship heat. But upon video replay, Shane was given a one-lap penalty that was earlier assessed to Jean Theoret in the U-16 Oberto Beef Jerky when the two boats collided with each other on lap two of the five-lap final.
The ruling gave the U-5 Graham Trucking boat and driver J. Michael Kelly, of Bonney Lake, the win, with Theoret awarded second place.
At the time, the penalty halted Shane’s four-race win streak.
Shane went on to capture the 2016 H-1 Unlimited National High Points Championship. The Columbia Cup appeal boosted Shane’s overall 2016 point total.
HomeStreet Bank has recently renewed its sponsorship for 2017.
“We look forward to continuing to take part in this rich racing tradition for years to come,” said Mark K. Mason, bank CEO and president.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
