J. Michael Kelly driving for Graham Trucking earned his second straight Albert Lee Cup victory at Seafair Sunday.
He beat Jimmy Shane driving for Oh Boy! Oberto after their boats bumped in the final lap and Shane was penalized.
“I lost a lot of momentum and I think that allowed him to gain even more on me,” Kelly told KIRO 7.
Shane said the Graham Trucking boat was far from the buoy and that the contact was not intentional.
#SEAFAIR CUP WINNER: It was a tight race in the much-anticipated hydroplane finals with J. Michael Kelly in the Graham...
Posted by KIRO 7 Eyewitness News on Sunday, August 2, 2015
This was the second year the Seafair final was a run-off between the Oh Boy! Oberto boat and the Graham Trucking boat. In 2014, there was talk of a possible 1-minute penalty in the final heat before Kelly was declared the winner.
The Seafair victory was another big win for Kelly, who won the Indian Governor’s Cup in Madison last month.
>> Follow this link to watch highlights video and to see photos from Seafair Sunday.
This is also the last year an Oberto hydroplane is expected to be at Seafair. After 40 years, the company is not renewing its sponsorship, and some Oberto family members don't want to drop the tradition.
They're asking people to call and write Oberto Beef Jerky to keep the iconic red, white, and green hydro on the water. Click on this link to contact the Oberto company.
In the F1 final, No. 16 Tim Seebold toped Terry Rinker and Chris Fairchild on Sunday.
Race Results: (Find videos of all the race heats here.)
Albert Lee Appliance Seafair Cup (hydroplanes)
Heat 1A: Jimmy Shane -- Oberto
Heat 1B: Jimmy King -- Homestreet Bank
Heat 1C: J. Michael Kelly -- Graham Trucking
Heat 2A: Jimmy Shane -- Oberto
Heat 2: Terry Rinker, Amsoil boat
Heat 3: Tim Seebold in the NGK Spark Plugs boat
Heat 4: Chris Fairchild in Mercury Racing boat
Heat 5: Tim Seebold in the NGK Spark Plugs boat
Final: Tim Seebold Tim Seebold in the NGK Spark Plugs boat
Thousands watch Seafair races and the Blues
Seafair Sunday is a tradition for dozens of Seattle families. For over 60 years Seafair — which starts in June — has been about community events, parades, Miss Seafair, the Navy and Coast Guard, amateur athletics, airplanes and of course, boat racing. But most of all, Seafair has been about people and it continues to be.
For more than six decades on Seafair Sunday, Blue Angels have soared above Lake Washington and the hydroplane race finals draw thousands of fans.
As the Blues took to the skies, specators were left in awe with the maneuvers -- which are not stunts, but techniques taught in flight school and then developed for combat environments. Click here for highlights in photos.
Nothing short of #stunning: The incredible #BlueAngels awed us again! Our #Seafair show coninutes on #KIRO7...
Posted byMeanwhile, the Logboom — the biggest float party in United States celebrated — the summer spirit in the heart of Seafair Sunday.
>> PHOTOS: Logboom and races on Seafair Sunday 2015https://twitter.com/KIRO7Seattle/status/627959928360013824 Officers also were patrolling Lake Washington looking for people boating under the influence of alcohol. The BUI patrols are a combined effort of local and state law enforcement.
f="https://www.facebook.com/KIRO7Seattle">KIRO 7 Eyewitness News
on Sunday, August 2, 2015
From the waters to the shore, many Seafair fans took to social media to share their love for the event. See what spectators and participants had to say, in the thread below.
KIRO