David leads way at Columbia Cup

KENNEWICK – Steve David drove Oh Boy! Oberto the top qualifying speed Friday for Sunday’s Lamb Weston Columbia Cup race for unlimited hydroplanes.

David averaged 161.957 mph for one lap around the 2.5-mile oval course on the Columbia River.

Right behind Oberto was Dave Villwock at the wheel of Ellstrom E-Lam Plus. He averaged 160.367 mph.

David is the defending Columbia Cup champion and also the defending national champion. Villwock won the first two races of the 2009 season and leads David in point standings, 3,377 to 3,110.

Third fastest was J. Michael Kelly driving Graham Tucking, with an average of 157.972. He was followed by Nate Brown in West Pasco Family Dental at 157.667.

Other qualifiers included Jeff Bernard in Formulaboats.com at 155.890, Jimmy King aboard the unnamed U-3 at 152.219, and Brian Perkins in Albert Lee at 144.624.

Other boats will have an opportunity to qualify today.

The first two preliminary heats will be this afternoon, with additional preliminary heats early Sunday before the winner-take-all final Sunday afternoon.