High speeds, spectacular incidents, and history: Inside the 2025 H1 Season
High speeds, spectacular incidents, and record-setting performances : the 2025 H1 Unlimited season had all the ingredients of a classic. From the first laps at pre-season testing in Tri-Cities to a record-breaking finale in San Diego, fans witnessed the full spectrum of what makes hydroplane racing unique: the team work, the rivalry, and the relentless pursuit of speed.
The year unofficially began in May during pre-season testing in Tri-Cities, where six teams gathered for their first runs on the Columbia River. The day was marked by a spectacular blowover from Gunnar O’Farrell in the U-21 Go Fast Turn Left, thankfully without injury. It was a reminder that every season begins with risk, but also with determination. Andrew Tate set the fastest lap of the weekend, signaling the pace he would carry all season, while Corey Peabody, J. Michael Kelly and Jamie Nilsen used the day to fine-tune their boats and prepare for the battles ahead.
Guntersville, Alabama, then set the tone in June. Storms interrupted the HydroFest program, and Dave Villwock’s violent crash in the U-27 Miss Apollo reminded everyone of the dangers at nearly 200 miles per hour. But the weekend also produced a highlight that carried through the year: Tate, in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate, joined his father Mark in the exclusive “170 mph Club” with a 171.04 mph qualifying lap — just 30 feet short of a new course record.
A month later, the spotlight shifted to Madison, Indiana, for the 75th anniversary. The hometown crowd cheered as Brandon Kennedy, piloting the U-6 Miss Madison, officially earned his Unlimited qualification. In Sunday’s Governor’s Cup final, Tate returned to form, capturing his second straight title. Behind him, J. Michael Kelly and Jamie Nilsen battled fiercely, with Nilsen and the U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC once again proving his consistency.
By late July, the Columbia River roared with anticipation for the 115th APBA Gold Cup. Villwock, not long removed from his Guntersville accident, returned as a legend extending his legacy. His win tied him with Chip Hanauer at 11 Gold Cups and lifted him to 68 career wins. For Apollo Mechanical, celebrating its first Gold Cup in its hometown, the moment carried historic resonance. Corey Peabody, the defending Gold Cup champion, showed his strength again with heat wins and a steady push for points, keeping the title fight alive. Jeff Bernard, driving the U-12 Graham Trucking, also made his season debut, bringing back one of the sport’s most respected names and giving fans another contender to watch.
Seattle’s Seafair followed a week later, and redemption became the theme. Tate, still stung by penalties in Tri-Cities, delivered a flawless drive to capture the Apollo Mechanical Cup. Kelly continued his mastery of Lake Washington, while Peabody battled adversity, his U-9 Beacon Plumbing facing repairs mid-weekend before returning to compete. Meanwhile, Jeff Bernard gave Graham Trucking fans something to cheer about, taking key heat victories and reminding everyone of his racecraft. The weekend also honored fallen officers and first responders through the Behind the Badge Foundation, and NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson turned back the clock with an exhibition run in the restored Atlas Van Lines “Blue Blaster”, a moment that tied the sport’s history to its present.
The finale in San Diego was something else entirely. With the Bill Muncey Cup on the line, J. Michael Kelly in the U-8 Beacon Electric shattered both the San Diego and overall 2.5-mile record with a 157.818 mph five-lap average. Tate and the U-91 stayed glued to Kelly throughout the race, producing one of the closest, most exciting duels fans had seen in years. Jamie Nilsen and Dave Villwock rounded out the podium battles, while Corey Peabody’s season ended abruptly with a blowover on Saturday, a tough conclusion for a driver who had been in the championship hunt.
As the 2025 season closed, it had delivered everything: storms, crashes, redemption, and history. Kennedy’s qualification, Villwock’s Gold Cup, Tate’s redemption, Kelly’s record-setting finale, and strong seasons from Peabody, O’Farrell, Nilsen, and Bernard combined to create a season that not only thrilled fans but also set the stage for an even bigger 2026. With teams already back in the shop preparing schedules and equipment, the foundation has been laid for another year of fast, fierce, and unforgettable racing.