Miss Bud wins Madison Regatta

MADISON, Ind. — Dave Villwock piloted Miss Budweiser to victory Sunday in her final Madison Regatta.

It was Villwock’s fifth win at Madison, and the last appearance in the regatta for the 23-time national champion Miss Budweiser. Anheuser-Busch is ending its sponsorship of unlimited hydroplane racing after the 2004 season.

Villwock, the top qualifier for Sunday’s race, took a decisive lead in the first turn of the final heat on the choppy Ohio River, winning by more than half a lap at 130.021 mph.

Greg Hopp in the Mariann Travel Inn finished second at 124.250 mph. Hopp moved up when Steve David in hometown favorite Oh Boy! Oberto was penalized a lap after going airborne and hitting a course buoy.

Two other boats — the Llumar Window Film and Miss EMCOR — didn’t finish because their bottom escape hatches blew open, forcing both drivers to shut off their engines. Neither driver was injured.

Terry Troxell was third at 114.063 in the Miss Elam Plus.