For the Reporter
It was a storybook ending for Jimmy Shane and the Kent-based Oberto Beef Jerky unlimited hydroplane team.
The Covington driver captured the H1 National High Points crown and the Bayfair Regatta race Sunday on San Diego’s Mission Bay for the second consecutive year, sending the Oberto-brand sponsorship off in style.
It was a perfect weekend for Shane, who won all three preliminary heats and then the championship final at the 51st annual San Diego race. Shane averaged 146.448 mph in the final heat around the 2½-mile course to take his 10th career win.
During a 16-year sponsorship run, the Oberto/Madison, Ind., team have won 20 races, including two Gold Cup titles, six H1 National High Points boat championships and eight drivers titles.
In the final, Shane was in Lane 2, Jimmy King in the HomestreetBank had Lane 1 and Scott Liddycoat in the Southern California 811 Dig/ Red Dot had Lane 4. Shane and Liddycoat ran close for the first lap, but after that the Oberto boat took control. Liddycoat took second with Cal Phipps in the Dalton Industries in third. J. Michael Kelly placed fourth in the Graham Trucking but only after going through the roostertail of Liddycoat on Lap 3.
“I didn’t want to make any mistakes, and I knew I had almost everyone on the outside of me, so I stayed back and hit the starting line a little late then let the boat go,” Shane said. “This boat ran extremely well all weekend, and I have to give our crew, crew chief Larry Hanson, the Oberto family and the city of Madison, Indiana thanks for allowing me the privilege to drive this boat.”
Earlier in the day, Shane clinched his second consecutive national driver and team championships when he won preliminary heat 2B and his closest challenger, Kelly, placed second.
“This was quite a day for everyone involved,” Shane said. “I do not know if anyone could have written a better script.”
Liddycoat started the day with his first heat win in the 811 Dig/Red Dot boat then took second in his next preliminary and the final. It was the team’s best finish of the year.
It was a tough race week for Kelly and the Graham Trucking crew. The boat was sideswiped by an 18-wheeler at a truck stop traveling to the race. Then on Saturday, the repair on the hole in the right rear shoe from that accident came apart in the first preliminary heat. The crew worked until 1:30 on Sunday morning to repair the damage, and Kelly came out and won preliminary Heat 3B.
SAN DIEGO BAYFAIR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
1, Jimmy Shane, Oberto Beef Jerky, 146.448 mph
2, Scott Liddycoat, Southern California 811 Dig/ Red Dot, 144.475 mph
3, Cal Phipps, Dalton Industries, 142.568 mph
4, J. Michael Kelly, Graham Trucking, 141.706 mph
5, Jimmy King, HomeStreet Bank, 139.466 mph
6, Jesse Robertson, Graham Trucking II, 134.379 mph
7, Kevin Eacret, Miss CARSTAR, 121.497 mph
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