Robertson, U-7 Graham Trucking to Tri-Cities test

Jesse Robertson

Jesse Robertson

Team Porter Racing bringing Robertson, U-7 Graham Trucking to Tri-Cities test

DECATUR, Ind. – Team Porter Racing will bring one of its Graham Trucking boats, and both drivers, to Kennewick, Wash. for the May 29 testing session at Columbia Park.

“We are really excited to announce that we will participate in the May 29 test session at Tri-Cities with the U-7 (T-5),” Owner Ted Porter said in making the announcement today. “New driver Jesse Robertson will get some valuable preseason seat time, and gain experience in his new boat and role.

“J. Michael Kelly will also be in Tri-Cities, and is going to take a couple of laps in the U-7,” Porter added.

Robertson joined the team in February 2015, after having qualified as an unlimited driver at Seattle in August 2013 with N. Mark Evans’ U-57 Fedco team. Robertson drove the final heat at the Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup that year and finished fourth. He was also scheduled to split heats with Evans at San Diego the same year, before damage to the boat during qualifying put the team out of the event.

Robertson also drove the U-12 Miss DiJulio at Doha, Qatar in November 2014, where he took a third place finish in his first-ever heat with the team.

Robertson has seen success driving everything from scale R/C hydros and outboard hydroplanes to 2.5 liter and Grand Prix hydros.

Kelly, who recently signed a multi-year extension to continue driving the team’s U-5 Graham Trucking hull (T-6), won four of the six H1 Unlimited races in 2014, including his second UIM World Championship at the Oryx Cup in Doha. At the race in Doha, Kelly won all five heats, including the winner-take-all final heat. He was the 2004 Unlimited Class Rookie of the Year and is an accomplished American Power Boat Association outboard and inboard racer.

Porter said the team is making “measured progress” on getting both boats ready for the season and that testing the U-7 would be beneficial to the team not only for getting Robertson some seat time, but also for improving the performance of the boat.

With Cal Phipps as driver in 2014, the U-7 Graham Trucking finished third in the H1 Unlimited National High Points standings, and qualified for the final heat at all six races, finishing on the podium three times.

“We think there is more that we can get out of this boat and equipment,” Porter said. “We just need some testing time to get there, and that’s why we’re bringing the U-7 to Tri-Cities.”

ABOUT TEAM PORTER RACING
Over the last four seasons, Team Porter Racing has won 11 races, which is more than any other team in the sport over that same span. Team Porter Racing has also won five of the last six – and four in a row – at the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship in Doha, Qatar.

In each of the last two years, Team Porter Racing has won four races on the H1 Unlimited Series. Since joining the H1 Unlimited series in 2006, Team Porter Racing has won a total of 16 races, placing Porter among the most successful owners in the sport’s history.

More information about the team can be found at www.u1racing.com, or on Facebook and Twitter.

– Team Porter Racing –

Published On: May 1st, 2015Categories: Tri-Cities

Robertson, U-7 Graham Trucking to Tri-Cities test

Jesse Robertson

Jesse Robertson

Team Porter Racing bringing Robertson, U-7 Graham Trucking to Tri-Cities test

DECATUR, Ind. – Team Porter Racing will bring one of its Graham Trucking boats, and both drivers, to Kennewick, Wash. for the May 29 testing session at Columbia Park.

“We are really excited to announce that we will participate in the May 29 test session at Tri-Cities with the U-7 (T-5),” Owner Ted Porter said in making the announcement today. “New driver Jesse Robertson will get some valuable preseason seat time, and gain experience in his new boat and role.

“J. Michael Kelly will also be in Tri-Cities, and is going to take a couple of laps in the U-7,” Porter added.

Robertson joined the team in February 2015, after having qualified as an unlimited driver at Seattle in August 2013 with N. Mark Evans’ U-57 Fedco team. Robertson drove the final heat at the Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup that year and finished fourth. He was also scheduled to split heats with Evans at San Diego the same year, before damage to the boat during qualifying put the team out of the event.

Robertson also drove the U-12 Miss DiJulio at Doha, Qatar in November 2014, where he took a third place finish in his first-ever heat with the team.

Robertson has seen success driving everything from scale R/C hydros and outboard hydroplanes to 2.5 liter and Grand Prix hydros.

Kelly, who recently signed a multi-year extension to continue driving the team’s U-5 Graham Trucking hull (T-6), won four of the six H1 Unlimited races in 2014, including his second UIM World Championship at the Oryx Cup in Doha. At the race in Doha, Kelly won all five heats, including the winner-take-all final heat. He was the 2004 Unlimited Class Rookie of the Year and is an accomplished American Power Boat Association outboard and inboard racer.

Porter said the team is making “measured progress” on getting both boats ready for the season and that testing the U-7 would be beneficial to the team not only for getting Robertson some seat time, but also for improving the performance of the boat.

With Cal Phipps as driver in 2014, the U-7 Graham Trucking finished third in the H1 Unlimited National High Points standings, and qualified for the final heat at all six races, finishing on the podium three times.

“We think there is more that we can get out of this boat and equipment,” Porter said. “We just need some testing time to get there, and that’s why we’re bringing the U-7 to Tri-Cities.”

ABOUT TEAM PORTER RACING
Over the last four seasons, Team Porter Racing has won 11 races, which is more than any other team in the sport over that same span. Team Porter Racing has also won five of the last six – and four in a row – at the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship in Doha, Qatar.

In each of the last two years, Team Porter Racing has won four races on the H1 Unlimited Series. Since joining the H1 Unlimited series in 2006, Team Porter Racing has won a total of 16 races, placing Porter among the most successful owners in the sport’s history.

More information about the team can be found at www.u1racing.com, or on Facebook and Twitter.

– Team Porter Racing –

Published On: May 1st, 2015Categories: Tri-Cities