Miss Budweiser wins her final race

Mon., Sept. 20, 2004

Associated Press

SAN DIEGO — Dave Villwock drove Miss Budweiser to victory Sunday in the Bill Muncey Cup on Mission Bay, the final appearance by the famous red unlimited hydroplane under the sponsorship of Anheuser-Busch.

Villwock drove Miss Budweiser to wins in all its preliminary heats, as well as the final.

Anheuser-Busch decided to end the longest-running sponsorship in motorsports following the death last year of Bernie Little Sr., a leading figure in unlimited hydroplane racing and the longtime owner of Miss Budweiser.

“Everyone always hates to see a good thing end, but if you’re going to go out, go out on top, and that’s what the team did today, true professionals to the very end,” said Joe Little, son of Bernie Little and president of Hydroplanes, Inc., owner of Miss Budweiser.

Miss Budweiser’s domination of the sport began in 1966 when it won the Atomic Cup on the Columbia River in Washington. Miss Budweiser had 141 victories and 17 drivers in 42 years.

The team will return to Seattle to clean up the boats and equipment and certify them as race-ready for either another sponsor or for sale.

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Miss Budweiser wins her final race

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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