The roar of unlimited hydroplanes is set to electrify Lake Washington as Seattle prepares to host the highly anticipated Seafair races, a premier event in the H1 Unlimited Racing Series. After a season marked by unpredictable weather challenges that impacted earlier events in Guntersville and Madison, the recent Gold Cup in the Tri-Cities finally delivered a clean, unhindered race, setting a promising precedent for the upcoming Apollo Mechanical Cup at Seafair.
This weekend’s Seafair event, beginning with qualifying on Friday morning, is traditionally free from weather interference, allowing the focus to remain squarely on the thrilling competition. However, a unique aspect of Seafair’s final heats is the frequent occurrence of penalties; five of the last six Seafairs have seen a penalty, though these have not altered the winner since 2022, adding a layer of strategic intrigue to the high-speed hydroplane racing.
Local fan favorite J.Michael Kelly, hailing from Bonney Lake, returns to defend his impressive record, having secured his fourth consecutive Seafair title last year. Piloting the U-8 Beacon Electric, Kelly boasts an impressive six Seafair wins and is now firmly in contention to challenge the legendary Dave Villwock’s all-time record of ten victories, making his pursuit a central narrative of this year’s Seattle sports spectacle.
Meanwhile, rookie driver Brandon Kennedy, who finally qualified in Madison, faced an early exit from his last race in Heat 2B due to a broken steering cable after a promising third-place finish in his first heat. His performance at Seafair will be closely watched as he aims to overcome early season setbacks and prove his mettle among the seasoned competitors.
The much-anticipated return of the U-37, last seen in 2014 as Schumacher Racing and now helmed by Jane Suzick and Crystal Weiding, has hit a roadblock. Despite their announcement last fall to race this season, the team has yet to get their unlimited hydroplanes boat in the water, further complicated by driver Brent Hall’s March announcement of his departure, delaying his historic bid to become the first Black driver to qualify in an unlimited hydroplane.
The racing circuit also sees the notable absence of the Bucket List Racing team this season, who made a cryptic announcement on Facebook regarding their decision. Citing an H1 rule about statements distracting from integrity, the team stated they were “unable to disclose why we have made this choice,” leaving fans to speculate. With the Flav-R-Pac sponsorship now moving to the U-11 Unlimited Racing Group, the competitive landscape of H1 Unlimited has subtly shifted.
The Maple Valley-based U-21 Spirit of America team, which recently competed in the Tri-Cities, returns to Lake Washington with a significant purpose: honoring all military branches. During Friday’s festivities at Seafair, the team will dedicate their efforts to military members, adding a patriotic dimension to the high-octane boat races.
In the ongoing national points race, despite a penalty incurred at the Tri-Cities event, Corey Peabody currently maintains the lead with 2,809 points. J.Michael Kelly is close behind in second place with 2,486 points, followed by Andrew Tate in third with 2,375, and Dave Villwock holding fourth position with 2,319 points, setting up a thrilling fight for the championship.
Looking ahead, H1 Unlimited has announced a significant change to its future racing calendar: Guntersville, Alabama, which has traditionally hosted the season opener for the past seven years, will not be returning in 2026, a decision attributed to a lack of local support for the event.
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