Sunday, 2:35 PM - Results of from the final! Patrick Haworth and the UL-72 Graham Trucking presents Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic Team win Tri-Cities.
Sunday, 2:25 PM - In Heat 4, the UL-38 pulled to the early lead over the UL-72 and simply would not surrender. Patrick Haworth was at the wheel of the 72 this time out. The UL-25 did make it out, but didn't make it to the start. The UL-40 no more than moved away from the dock when he submarine much of the front end of the boat. When he came to rest, the engine section was literally shooting water into the air in two jets much like a small fountain. As the UL-15 and the UL-929 went into the first turn, they went down. Hopp's UL-15 was able to fire, but Sunday, 2:03 PM - Heat 4 Results
Sunday, 1:00 PM - Here is your line-up for Heat 4 ... UL-72, UL-929, UL-38, UL-15, UL-25, UL-40 Sunday, 10:42 AM - Three boats made it out on the water during the morning test session including the UL-25 CSI Motorsports (out and tried, but no speed), the UL-38 Security Race Products presents Golden Nugget Casino (84.475, 107.000, 111.519, 84.660) and the UL-15 Freddie's Club of Renton/Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy Go Lucky (82.093, 116.711, 69.761). Sunday, 9:32 AM - We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Jerry Hopp's "#1 grandson". Today is Justin Hanson's Birthday. He is 12 years old and he's helping crew on the UL-15 throughout the Tri-Cities weekend. Sunday, 7:48 AM - Tentative schedule for the day? Unlimited Light testing - 9:30-10:30 am, Opening Ceremonies - 10:45, Unlimited Light Heat 4 - 1:55 PM, Unlimited Light Final - 3:35 PM. Saturday, 5:15 AM - Heat 3 Results
Fans enjoyed a nice battle for first this time out as the UL-72, the UL-15, the UL-40 and the UL-38 all went into the first turn together. Regrettably, the UL-40 lost power in that turn and went down. He was able to refire, but that turned the race for first into a three boat run. The UL-72 would take the lead out of the first turn, but he would be pushed to second by a hard charging Dave Bender in the UL-38. Once Bender captured the lead there was no looking back. By lap two, Jerry Hopp's UL-15 appeared to be suffering in the turns once again. In the first turn of lap three, he went down for a few moment's but was able to get back up on plane and finish third. Had Vince Xaudaro's UL-929 team had sixty additional seconds, they would have made the race. Vince was jumping across the hull and was almost away from the dock when the one minute gun went off. Talking with Vince earlier today, he explained that part of the boats steering actually came loose in Heat 1 and he had to back off the lead pace or (humorously smiling as only Vince can) "we would have smoked the Bud". Saturday, 3:22 AM - Heat 2 Results
Phil Bononcini was back at the wheel of the UL-72 in Heat 2. Early problems for two of the teams took some of the punch out of this heat. Going into turn one, the UL-15 had the lead. By the exit of the turn the UL-72 had the lead. Strong in the straight-aways, the 15 would loose speed in the turns. On the backstretch of the first lap, this was an advantage that the UL-40 would capitalize on as well passing the UL-15. The UL-40 looked at first as if it would make a charge for Bononcini and the UL-72, but this would not be the case. The 40 would go down in the first turn of lap two. He would refire and return to the heat, but his battle would be for second rather than first. Bononcini continued to stretch out the lead to the finish. Saturday, 12:55 AM - Heat 1 Results
Coming out of the first turn, it was the UL-929 pulling ahead to the early lead. Vince Xaudaro really has dialed in his "X-Man" hull. Xaudaro is running before a hometown crowd this weekend and you could hear the excitement generated when they announced (over the PA) where he grew up and the high school he graduated from. By the second turn, Patrick Haworth in the UL-72 caught Xaudaro and the UL-40 was able to overcome them both securing the lead. Just as driver Kelly Stocklin took the lead in the 40, something let go and he went down. For the next lap it would be a UL-72 and the UL-929 battling. Haworth would take the lead and hold it for the win. Following the heat, Haworth described the boat as an unbelievable ride. He explained that he felt fortunate to be driving "the best unlimited light on the water" and described the UL-72 team as "unbelievable coaches". Patrick and the Valleyfield race site are hoping to field an Unlimited Light team in 2003 and he's getting early experience in the 72 this season. Haworth, who's only in his mid-twenties, already has a long history of driving victories and undisputed runs in lower classes. We'll run down all his accomplishments in a story when time allows. Quite a guy and a welcome addition to the series. Saturday, 12:21 AM - The UL-72 Graham's Trucking Presents Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic will be driven by Patrick Haworth in Heat 1. Saturday, 11:32 AM - The UL-15 Freddie's Club of Renton/Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy Go Lucky and the UL-40 O'Brien's Roostertail have both been out testing. The UL-15 put in speeds of 61.678, 62.361 and 63.917. Saturday, 11:03 AM - Here are the line-ups for Heat 1, Heat 2, Heat 3 and Heat 4... Heat 1 - UL-23, UL-25,
UL-19, UL-40, UL-72, UL-929, UL-38 Saturday, 9:16 AM - UL-25 will run as CSI Motorsport this weekend. Saturday, 9:02 AM - More seat jumping as the UL-15 Freddie's Club of Renton/Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy Go Lucky takes to the water. Greg Hopp has replaced Jerry for this run. Speeds - 90.761, 95.902, 112.094, 106.353 Saturday, 9:00 AM - The UL-23 made it out, but did not make it back. They are bringing JW back in at this time. Saturday, 8:58 AM - UL-38 Security Race Products presents Golden Nugget Casino speeds - 83.470, 106.983, 106.151 Saturday, 8:52 AM - JW Myers in the UL-23 JW Myers No Fear.com Extreme Racing Team was heading out, but bumped into a small delay on the water. Dave Bender behind the wheel of the UL-38 quickly jumped out onto the course to fill the vacant moment. Saturday, 8:45 AM - Speeds for the UL-19 Cleopatra's Casino's Kennewick Washington - 79.448, 99.005. Steve Hook is the pilot of the UL-19. (Nothing unusual there, but with all the recent seat jumping fun, we thought we should note that Steve is still behind the wheel.) Saturday, 8:39 AM - Speed for the UL-21 Plateau Shell - 74.830, went dead on the course. This run signaled the official return of Nick Badolato! Welcome back Nick. Saturday, 8:33 AM - Speeds for the UL-40 O'Brien's Roostertail - 83.460, 54.837 Saturday, 8:30 AM - Overnight, Jody Patton's UL-25 joined us here in the pits. Saturday, 8:29 AM - Speeds for the UL-72 Graham's Trucking Presents Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic - 95.353, 107.746, 79.067 Saturday, 8:28 AM - Kelley Stocklin is preparing for a run as well. He'll be piloting the blown motor UL-40. Saturday, 8:24 AM - Saturday, 8:18 AM - The course is going green for UL testing. First out on the water... Phil Bononcini in the UL-72 Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic. Saturday, 7:26 AM - Talking with ULHRA Commission Patricia Darling, we have all the details on how the weekend will come together, race-wise. We will be running three heats today and one tomorrow (Heat 1, Heat 2, etc...). The final will run tomorrow. Each team will run 3 heats out of 4. Each boat will get points for two of the heats. Today's heats are scheduled for 12:40 PM, 3:10 PM and 5:00 PM. Friday , 5:33 PM - The UL-23 JW Myers No Fear.com Extreme Racing Team, the UL-21 Thunder Valley Racing and the UL-40 Thunder Valley Racing teams are now in the pits. Early reports that the UL-19 was in the area were true. The Spirit of Coeur d'Alene is in the area attending a local sponsor display. Friday , 4:25 PM - The UL-15 and the UL-72 made it out on the water. The top speed during qualification before this round was held by the UL-15 at 114.603. Patrick Haworth went out in the UL-72 and knocked it down with a best lap speed of 114.867. Jerry Hopp, returning to the water, would not be denied. He turned in speeds of 116.427 and 118.264, raising the top speed with each lap. Friday , 4:08 PM - The lights will soon return to the water for another round of qualification. As a side note, Gordon Grimm is filling in for Dave Bender today in the UL-38 Security Race Products presents Golden Nugget Casino. Bender won't be able to make it to the race until tomorrow. Friday , 3:14 PM - Paul Hodge of the UL-23 team let us know that the boat is on it's way and is about 20 minutes out. The team has been hard at work since Detroit. New engine, new bottom and it feels like "everything is new" on the UL-23 Extreme Ul Racing Team entry. Friday , 1:54 PM - Looking back on the afternoon qualification session, four boats took to the water. First our was Patrick Haworth in the UL-72. As Phil Bononcini watched from atop one of the transport trucks, Haworth went out and got a good feel for the hull. Upon returning, he was asked what it was like. He indicated that that, after spending the first two laps trying to find the course, it was great! Taking a look at some of the speeds...
Friday , 1:18 PM - An update on two teams; the UL-21 and the UL-40 should be here in the morning. We have Lights taking to the water at this time... Friday , 12:20 PM - Kelly Stocklin has reportedly been shaved of hair and mustache and should be unrecognizable when he arrives in the pits. Friday , 12:02 PM - Joe Frauenheim, UL-72 Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic team co-owner and ULHRA President, just become a grandfather for the first time. It's a girl and, at this time, that's all we know. Friday , 11:52 AM
Friday , 11:00 AM - Unlimited Light teams are setting up shop here in Tri-Cities. Everyone has been in great spirits this morning. The first round of UL Testing/Qualification is scheduled for 1:00 PM. As of last night, the UL-72 Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic and the UL-38 Security Race Products presents Silver Dollar Casino were in the pits. Early this morning we added the UL-929 Capstone presents Babcock Services and the UL-15 Freddie's Club of Renton/Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy Go Lucky. 
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