Theoret, Shane lead hydro qualifying

KENNEWICK – The two drivers racing this weekend that have won an APBA Gold—the most prestigious trophy in the sport of H1 Unlimited Hydroplane racing—showed the rest of the field Saturday they will  be the favorites to win the Gold Cup.

Jean Theoret, winner of the 2006 Gold Cup, ran away with Heat 1A in his Ellstrom Elam Plus, winning the four-lap heat on the 2 ½ mile Columbia River course with an average speed of 141.697 mph. Jimmy Shane, the defending Gold Cup champion, made a perfect start and went on to win heat 2B over Call Phipps in the Dalton Industries boat. Shane averaged 143.441 mph.

Winds with gusts up to 25 mph played havoc with the first day, postponing the second set of preliminary heats until today.