Brandon Kennedy officially qualifies as H1 Unlimited driver in Madison
MADISON, Indiana — In front of an enthusiastic crowd in Madison, Brandon Kennedy has officially earned his H1 Unlimited driver qualification. On Saturday at the 2025 Indiana Governor’s Cup, Kennedy completed the required 10 of 15 rookie laps at a minimum average speed of 130 miles per hour, meeting the threshold to be licensed as a full-time Unlimited driver.
This accomplishment now means he can compete in heats, but he was disqualified during qualifying/time trials due to a fuel (N2) violation, which voided his eligibility to participate in the weekend’s racing. Following the disqualification, the H1 Chairman granted a Chairman’s Option, allowing the team to remain eligible for competition through the weekend — and giving Kennedy the chance to offer the hometown fans a proud moment.
With his driver qualification now secured, Kennedy must still complete mandatory outside-lane runs as a trailer during both qualifying periods to fully validate his racing eligibility under H1 Unlimited rules.
“It’s a huge moment for me — qualifying in Madison, in front of our fans, means everything,” Kennedy said. “I’m grateful for the support from the team and the opportunity to earn this the right way. Now we shift focus to racing.”
Saturday recap: Speeds and heat victories
In Saturday’s qualifying runs, Andrew Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate posted the fastest speed of the day at 155.557 MPH. He was closely followed by Corey Peabody (U-9 Beacon Plumbing) at 153.590 MPH, and Dave Villwock (U-27 Miss Apollo) at 151.273 MPH.
Veterans J. Michael Kelly (U-8 Beacon Electric) and Jamie Nilsen (U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC) also clocked strong times, while Brandon Kennedy did not record a qualifying speed due to disqualification.
The afternoon featured two H1 heats. In Heat 1A, Tate (U-91) took the win over Nilsen (U-11) and Villwock (U-27). Heat 1B saw Peabody (U-9) claim victory ahead of Kelly (U-8) and Kennedy (U-6) who started as a trailer from the outside.
With driver milestones achieved and fans packed along the shoreline, the 2025 Indiana Governor’s Cup is delivering excitement boat racing is known for.
Official Saturday qualifying results
- U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate – Andrew Tate – 155.557 MPH
- U-9 Beacon Plumbing – Corey Peabody – 153.590 MPH
- U-27 Miss Apollo – Dave Villwock – 151.273 MPH
- U-8 Beacon Electric – J. Michael Kelly – 148.355 MPH
- U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC – Jamie Nilsen – 143.600 MPH
- DNQ. U-6 Miss Madison – Brandon Kennedy – Disqualified for N2 violation (Friday)
Heat 1 Results
Heat 1A – Official:
1st – U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate (Tate)
2nd – U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC (Nilsen)
3rd – U-27 Miss Apollo (Villwock)
Heat 1B – Official:
1st – U-9 Beacon Plumbing (Peabody)
2nd – U-8 Beacon Electric (Kelly)
3rd – U-6 Miss Madison (Kennedy)
These early heats set the tone for what’s shaping up to be an exciting race weekend, with strong showings from every team in the fleet.
National High Points standings (After Heat 1B)
Following Saturday’s action, the national high points standings are as follows:
- U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate (Tate) – 600 pts
- U-9 Beacon Plumbing (Peabody) – 560 pts
- U-8 Beacon Electric (Kelly) – 430 pts
- U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC (Nilsen) – 400 pts
- U-27 Miss Apollo (Villwock) – 355 pts
- U-6 Miss Madison (Kennedy) – 225 pts
These point totals will continue to evolve as Sunday’s heats and finals play out.
Full Sunday Schedule – July 6, 2025
Racing continues today with a packed schedule across all classes. The day opens with a final testing session and Kennedy’s outside-lane trailer laps. From there, fans will enjoy nonstop action on the Ohio River.
9:00 – 10:00 AM
- H1 Unlimited Testing
10:00 – 10:15 AM
- Opening Ceremony
11:35 – 11:55 AM
- H1 Heat 2A
- U-11 Miss FlAV-R-PAC – Jamie Nilsen
- U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate – Andrew Tate
- U-9 Beacon Plumbing – Corey Peabody
11:55 – 12:15 AM
- H1 Heat 2B
- U-8 Beacon Electric – J. Michael Kelly
- U-6 Miss Madison – Brandon Kennedy
- U-27 Miss Apollo – Dave Villwock
1:35 – 1:55 PM
- H1 Heat 3A
1:55 – 2:15 PM
- H1 Heat 3B
3:45 – 4:15 PM
- H1 Unlimited Final
Brandon Kennedy officially qualifies as H1 Unlimited driver in Madison
MADISON, Indiana — In front of an enthusiastic crowd in Madison, Brandon Kennedy has officially earned his H1 Unlimited driver qualification. On Saturday at the 2025 Indiana Governor’s Cup, Kennedy completed the required 10 of 15 rookie laps at a minimum average speed of 130 miles per hour, meeting the threshold to be licensed as a full-time Unlimited driver.
This accomplishment now means he can compete in heats, but he was disqualified during qualifying/time trials due to a fuel (N2) violation, which voided his eligibility to participate in the weekend’s racing. Following the disqualification, the H1 Chairman granted a Chairman’s Option, allowing the team to remain eligible for competition through the weekend — and giving Kennedy the chance to offer the hometown fans a proud moment.
With his driver qualification now secured, Kennedy must still complete mandatory outside-lane runs as a trailer during both qualifying periods to fully validate his racing eligibility under H1 Unlimited rules.
“It’s a huge moment for me — qualifying in Madison, in front of our fans, means everything,” Kennedy said. “I’m grateful for the support from the team and the opportunity to earn this the right way. Now we shift focus to racing.”
Saturday recap: Speeds and heat victories
In Saturday’s qualifying runs, Andrew Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate posted the fastest speed of the day at 155.557 MPH. He was closely followed by Corey Peabody (U-9 Beacon Plumbing) at 153.590 MPH, and Dave Villwock (U-27 Miss Apollo) at 151.273 MPH.
Veterans J. Michael Kelly (U-8 Beacon Electric) and Jamie Nilsen (U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC) also clocked strong times, while Brandon Kennedy did not record a qualifying speed due to disqualification.
The afternoon featured two H1 heats. In Heat 1A, Tate (U-91) took the win over Nilsen (U-11) and Villwock (U-27). Heat 1B saw Peabody (U-9) claim victory ahead of Kelly (U-8) and Kennedy (U-6) who started as a trailer from the outside.
With driver milestones achieved and fans packed along the shoreline, the 2025 Indiana Governor’s Cup is delivering excitement boat racing is known for.
Official Saturday qualifying results
- U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate – Andrew Tate – 155.557 MPH
- U-9 Beacon Plumbing – Corey Peabody – 153.590 MPH
- U-27 Miss Apollo – Dave Villwock – 151.273 MPH
- U-8 Beacon Electric – J. Michael Kelly – 148.355 MPH
- U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC – Jamie Nilsen – 143.600 MPH
- DNQ. U-6 Miss Madison – Brandon Kennedy – Disqualified for N2 violation (Friday)
Heat 1 Results
Heat 1A – Official:
1st – U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate (Tate)
2nd – U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC (Nilsen)
3rd – U-27 Miss Apollo (Villwock)
Heat 1B – Official:
1st – U-9 Beacon Plumbing (Peabody)
2nd – U-8 Beacon Electric (Kelly)
3rd – U-6 Miss Madison (Kennedy)
These early heats set the tone for what’s shaping up to be an exciting race weekend, with strong showings from every team in the fleet.
National High Points standings (After Heat 1B)
Following Saturday’s action, the national high points standings are as follows:
- U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate (Tate) – 600 pts
- U-9 Beacon Plumbing (Peabody) – 560 pts
- U-8 Beacon Electric (Kelly) – 430 pts
- U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC (Nilsen) – 400 pts
- U-27 Miss Apollo (Villwock) – 355 pts
- U-6 Miss Madison (Kennedy) – 225 pts
These point totals will continue to evolve as Sunday’s heats and finals play out.
Full Sunday Schedule – July 6, 2025
Racing continues today with a packed schedule across all classes. The day opens with a final testing session and Kennedy’s outside-lane trailer laps. From there, fans will enjoy nonstop action on the Ohio River.
9:00 – 10:00 AM
- H1 Unlimited Testing
10:00 – 10:15 AM
- Opening Ceremony
11:35 – 11:55 AM
- H1 Heat 2A
- U-11 Miss FlAV-R-PAC – Jamie Nilsen
- U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate – Andrew Tate
- U-9 Beacon Plumbing – Corey Peabody
11:55 – 12:15 AM
- H1 Heat 2B
- U-8 Beacon Electric – J. Michael Kelly
- U-6 Miss Madison – Brandon Kennedy
- U-27 Miss Apollo – Dave Villwock
1:35 – 1:55 PM
- H1 Heat 3A
1:55 – 2:15 PM
- H1 Heat 3B
3:45 – 4:15 PM
- H1 Unlimited Final