Corey Peabody and Jeff Bernard both from Kent Washington, were winners in the first day of H1 Unlimited Racing Series action at the Guntersville Lake Hydrofest in Guntersville, Alabama.

Today (Sunday) will feature two more sets of preliminary heats and the winner-take-all final, which will determine the recipient of the 2021 Southern Cup.

In the day’s first heat, Peabody drove Pinnacle Peak Consulting first across the starting line and held that position to the end, outpacing his Strong Racing Group teammate J. Michael Kelly of Bonney Lake, Washington, who was driving Miss Tri-Cities.

Peabody averaged 154.421 miles per hour in the victory.

Finishing third was Andrew Tate of Canton, Michigan, in Graham Trucking.

Tate missed a buoy during the race and had to run an extra lap. Dustin Echols of Monroe, Washington, driver of Bucket List Racing, did not start.

In the day’s second preliminary heat, Jeff Bernard held the lead from start to finish
driving Miss HomeStreet to an average speed of 150.474 miles per hour.

Finishing second was Jamie Nilsen of Fife, Washington, aboard J&D’s.

Dave Villwock of Monroe was not able to start in Miss Beacon Plumbing.

Earlier in the day, Peabody earned 100 points as the event’s fastest qualifier with a run of 158.623 miles per hour.

Kelly was the second fastest qualifier at 157.930 miles per hour, Dave Villwock was third at 156.475 miles per hour, and Bernard was fourth with a run of 156.052 miles per hour.

The Guntersville race is the first H1 Unlimited Racing Series event held since 2019,
due to the 2020 season being cancelled.

The 2021 season will include an event in Madison, Indiana, next weekend; a race in the Tri-Cities, Washington, in late July; and a race in San Diego in September.