H1 Media & NW Motorsports Report
Madison, Indiana (July 5, 2026) — The engraver producing the plate that goes on the Gold Cup will not have much to change other than the name of the driver.
After the Miss Apollo won the prestigious trophy in 2025 in Tri Cities with Dave Villwock at the controls, this time it was Jimmy Shane who drove to victory on another river course.
Patience paid off on Sunday at the Madison Regatta as determination from organizers, city officials, volunteers, race teams, and fans ensured the 2026 APBA Gold Cup would crown a deserving champion.
Following an extended delay while crews worked tirelessly to clear debris from the Ohio River upstream of the bridge, the Madison Regatta organizing committee, alongside the City of Madison, made the decision to keep the race course open longer than originally scheduled.
Their efforts allowed two additional qualifying heats to be completed, giving every team the opportunity to race the mandatory three qualifying heats required to determine the five-boat Gold Cup Final field.
When the final went green, Shane delivered a flawless performance aboard the U-27 Miss Apollo to capture the 116th APBA Gold Cup in his return to H1 Unlimited competition after a four-year absence.
The victory marks the sixth Gold Cup title of Shane’s remarkable career, further cementing his place among the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.
Corey Peabody capped off an impressive weekend with a strong runner-up finish, while J. Michael Kelly completed the podium in third. Andrew Tate crossed the finish line in second place but received a bearing out penalty, moving him to fifth in the official results. The U-6 Royer Miss Madison finished sixth as the trailer boat.
H1 Unlimited now turns its attention to the next stop on the 2026 championship tour in Tri-Cities, Washington, where the season continues in just a few weeks.
Fans can follow H1 Unlimited throughout the weekend on social media and watch live coverage online at youtube.com/h1unlimited.
Official Final Results
U-27 Miss Apollo – Jimmy Shane
U-3 Tahoe Miss – Corey Peabody
U-00 Maverick – J. Michael Kelly
U-6 Royer Miss Madison
U-1 Miss BWR Racing – Andrew Tate