SAN DIEGO — For the third H1 Unlimited race in a row, the first boat to cross the finish line did not earn victory.
When leader Dave Villwock crossed the starting line early and was assessed a one-minute penalty, the 2025 Bayfair San Diego and Bill Muncey Cup victory was awarded to J. Michael Kelly and the U-8 Beacon Electric prevailed edging out Andrew Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate.
While race runner-up, Tate earned the biggest prize as the 2025 H-1 national champion. He won the title by 764 points (5,975 to 5,211).
It marked Kelly’s first victory of the season, a well-earned triumph to close the year.
“This team never stopped working, even when the results didn’t go our way earlier this season,” said Kelly. “Winning here in San Diego, in front of these fans, and bringing home the Bill Muncey Cup is an incredible reward for everyone involved.”
For what it was worth, the fastest lap of the heat belonged to Villwock, who posted 156.737 mph.
The day began with the rerun of Heat 1 following Saturday morning’s incident involving Corey Peabody. J. Michael Kelly in the U-8 Beacon Electric surged to victory, followed by Dave Villwock in the U-27 Miss Apollo and Jamie Nilsen in the U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC.
In Heat 4, only two boats answered the start gun after the U-8 registered a DNS. The U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate claimed the win ahead of Nilsen’s U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC.
National high point 2025 leaders
Boat; Driver; Points
1. U-91; Andrew Tate; 5,975
2. U-8 J; Michael Kelly; 5,211
3. U-27; Dave Villwock; 4,597
4. U-11; Jamie Nilsen; 4,527
5. U-9; Corey Peabody; 3,709