The 2025 H1 Unlimited season came to a close at Mission Bay with Bayfair San Diego powered by Samson Rope. The three-day event featured steady competition across heats and a final race that determined both a season champion and a race winner.
Sunday’s Heats
Racing resumed Sunday morning with a rerun of Heat 1 following Saturday’s incident involving Corey Peabody. J. Michael Kelly in the U-8 Beacon Electric earned the win, followed by Dave Villwock in the U-27 Miss Apollo and Jamie Nilsen in the U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC. Kelly also recorded the fastest lap of the heat at 157.585 mph.
Heat 4 saw only two boats start after the U-8 registered a DNS. Andrew Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate secured the win ahead of Nilsen’s U-11.
Heat 5 and the Championship
Heat 5 shifted the points standings when Villwock’s U-27 crossed the line first but was assessed a one-minute penalty for encroachment. The victory was awarded to Tate in the U-91, a result that secured him the 2025 National High Points Championship. Kelly’s U-8 placed second and Nilsen’s U-11 third. Villwock recorded the fastest lap at 156.737 mph.
Bill Muncey Cup Final
The final race of the season, the Bill Muncey Cup, featured close competition at the front and middle of the field. Kelly and the U-8 Beacon Electric finished first, narrowly ahead of Tate’s U-91. It marked Kelly’s first race win of the season.
“This team kept working through the challenges we faced earlier in the year,” Kelly said. “Closing out the season with a win here in San Diego is meaningful for all of us.”
Team owners Mike and Vanessa Strong also recognized the effort behind the year:
“I couldn’t be prouder of our team,” said Darrell Strong. “From the shop to the racecourse, they stayed committed and this win reflects that.”