STRONG RACING
U-8 BEACON ELECTRIC
STRONG RACING
U-8 BEACON ELECTRIC
J. Michael Kelly piloted the U-1 Beacon Electric for the Strong Racing team in 2024, following a standout 2023 season where he earned his second National Championship and his first “U-1” hull designation. Over his impressive career, Kelly has won 2 APBA Gold Cups, 2 H1 Unlimited National Championships, and holds 26 World Records across various classes. He is a 14-time National Champion, a 10-time APBA Hall of Champions inductee, and a 17-time H1 Unlimited race winner.
Kelly captured his first H1 Unlimited hydroplane victory at the 2009 inaugural U.I.M. World Championship Oryx Cup in Doha, Qatar. With two race wins in 2021 (Guntersville and San Diego), he secured his first Driver’s High Points Championship and repeated the feat in 2023 while also clinching the Team National Championship. With a career spanning 21 years, Kelly stands among the most seasoned and accomplished drivers on the circuit.
When not racing, Kelly works as a lead carpenter in the Pacific Northwest. A graduate of Kent Meridian High School in Kent, WA, he lives in Bonney Lake, WA, with his wife Angela and their sons Brennen, Carson, and Asher.
Darrell & Venessa Strong were sponsors for 8 years prior to purchasing two of the fastest boats on the circuit from Ellstrom Racing (U-8) and Jones Racing (U-9) and assembling his own team in late 2020. The team won its first race in Guntersville and went on to win 3 out of 4 races in the 2021 season, giving J. Michael Kelly the Driver’s High Point Championship in the process. The 2023 season conclusion brought their first “U-1” designation after J. Michel Kelly beat out teammate Corey Peabody for the Championship at the APBA Gold Cup in Seattle.
Professionally, Darrell has been a consulting broker specializing in employee benefits since 1985 and is among the top licensed agents in the Northwest – in the top 5% in Washington and #1 with PayneWest Insurance. As the leader of Select Benefit Systems and a leader in the industry, he has developed trusts in two niche markets and serves on the Broker Advisory Board for Premera. Darrell consults with clients to help design and develop innovative benefit plans.
- Home Port: Auburn, WA
- Team Founded: 2020
- Boat Colors: Red/White
- Hull Builder: Ellstrom Racing
- Hull Built: 2014
- Engine: T-55/L-7 Turbine
- Team Website: www.strongracing.com
- Only highly knowledgeable and trained electricians are put on the job
- Every electrician works diligently, with utmost attention to detail
- All our work is done to code
- Fine-quality electrical wiring and parts are used
- Our electricians take necessary safety precautions to ensure incident-free jobs
- Customers pay fair and competitive prices
No electrical repair job is too big or too small for our company to handle in Seattle. We deliver expert services that leave you completely satisfied so that you think only of us anytime you need an electrician in Seattle.
Jeff Campbell brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience to the Strong racing team, with his career highlighted by twelve years with the Miss Budweiser organization, and 9 years as Crew Chief for Jones Racing.
Jeff’s racing career started early at age 14, when he set his first world record in a limited hydroplane and would go on to set 3 records and win the one Liter 1985 National Championship. His first unlimited experience would come helping his brother Mike Campbell work on the Miller American hydroplane team in 1987 which led to other Unlimited teams like the US West Cellular, Frank Kenny Toyota and the 1988 Mr. Pringles Race team prior to joining the Miss Budweiser team in 1992-2004.
In 2011 Jeff joined the Jones Racing team and quickly made the U-9 into a competitive team. In 2018 Jeff led the team to 5 race wins including the Gold Cup and National Championship. Jeff has won the H1 Unlimited Crew chief of the year 3 times during his 9 years at Jones Racing and was voted Crew Chief of the Year again in 2023. As of the end of the 2023 season, he has been an integral part of teams that have a total of 63 race wins, 9 Gold Cup wins, 11 National Championships and he has 13 wins as Crew Chief.
SEATTLE, WA
Mike has been involved in boat racing since 1968, initially helping his father who raced in the 145ci. class. He qualified as an inboard driver in 1975 and is a past competition world record holder in the 145ci. class. He started working on Unlimited hydroplanes prior to the 1980 season with Miss Circus Circus and has worked with teams since then. Mike has joined Strong Racing, with “back of boat” duties including prop and rudder inspection and adjustment.
He has won nine National Championships with three different teams, and won eight Gold Cups with four different teams.
Mike is married to his wife Cindy and they have a daughter Courtney
AUBURN, WA
Jeff has been crewing for son J. Michael since the 2004 season. Jeff was a second-generation racer with a long history in boat racing, beginning in 1981 and ending when J. Michael began in Unlimiteds.
He raced C Hydro, C Runabout and C Mod and held multiple records, most of which are now held by his son.
WESTLAND, MI
Tim was born into racing with his father who has been involved since the 1960’s. In 2015 Tim became owner of the Y-41 Shenanigans 1 liter hydroplane that J. Michael Kelly drives. He began in Unlimited racing in 2022 as radio man and crewman of the U-91.
He is married to wife Shannon, and has a son Alex and daughter Dylan.
PUYALLUP, WA
“Monkey” first got involved in inboard racing in 2008 with 2.5 and 5 liter hydros. He was a crew member for Jones Racing in Unlimiteds 2011-2014 and joined Strong Racing in 2021. He is skid fin specialist on the U-8 Beacon Electric, and is often called on to paint when the boats need some cosmetic attention.
Jason owns the 2.5 liter hydro “Monkey Business”.
AUBURN, WA
Jason got involved in Unlimited racing in 2013 when he met his wife and joined the Jones Racing team. He worked on the U-9 for 6 years before the team retired in 2018. He then took 4 years off from racing before being asked by his father-in-law Jeff Campbell to join Strong Racing.
He and wife Kelsey have three children.
ENUMCLAW, WA
Desi first got involved in boat racing in 2014, working on Jones Racing’s U-9, and stayed with the boat when Strong Racing acquired it in 2020. She is in charge of fueling and general support.
Desi is married to U-9 teammate Brian and they have two daughters, Caroline and Julia.
SOUTH LYON, MI
Jim has been involved in the Limited Inboard category since 1989, where he has built and owned several One Litre Modified boats that have won 11 National Championships, set 19 World Records and won multiple Divisional and National titles.
This will be Jim’s first year working in the Unlimited class, supporting the Strong Racing team with electrical systems and data analysis.
Jim is married to wife Jewel.
ISSAQUAH, WA
Travis started racing hydroplanes in 2017 in outboard classes ASH hydro and AXH hydro, following in the footsteps of his dad who raced in various classes in 1960. He first became involved with the Unlimited class in 2019 as a crew member on the U-98 Graham Trucking American Dream.
He is proud father of daughter Desiraie
SEATTLE, WA
Mike has been involved in boat racing since 1968, initially helping his father who raced in the 145ci. class. He qualified as an inboard driver in 1975 and is a past competition world record holder in the 145ci. class. He started working on Unlimited hydroplanes prior to the 1980 season with Miss Circus Circus and has worked with teams since then. Mike has joined Strong Racing, with “back of boat” duties including prop and rudder inspection and adjustment.
He has won nine National Championships with three different teams, and won eight Gold Cups with four different teams.
Mike is married to his wife Cindy and they have a daughter Courtney
AUBURN, WA
Jeff has been crewing for son J. Michael since the 2004 season. Jeff was a second-generation racer with a long history in boat racing, beginning in 1981 and ending when J. Michael began in Unlimiteds.
He raced C Hydro, C Runabout and C Mod and held multiple records, most of which are now held by his son.
WESTLAND, MI
Tim was born into racing with his father who has been involved since the 1960’s. In 2015 Tim became owner of the Y-41 Shenanigans 1 liter hydroplane that J. Michael Kelly drives. He began in Unlimited racing in 2022 as radio man and crewman of the U-91.
He is married to wife Shannon, and has a son Alex and daughter Dylan.
PUYALLUP, WA
“Monkey” first got involved in inboard racing in 2008 with 2.5 and 5 liter hydros. He was a crew member for Jones Racing in Unlimiteds 2011-2014 and joined Strong Racing in 2021. He is skid fin specialist on the U-8 Beacon Electric, and is often called on to paint when the boats need some cosmetic attention.
Jason owns the 2.5 liter hydro “Monkey Business”.
AUBURN, WA
Jason got involved in Unlimited racing in 2013 when he met his wife and joined the Jones Racing team. He worked on the U-9 for 6 years before the team retired in 2018. He then took 4 years off from racing before being asked by his father-in-law Jeff Campbell to join Strong Racing.
He and wife Kelsey have three children.
ENUMCLAW, WA
Desi first got involved in boat racing in 2014, working on Jones Racing’s U-9, and stayed with the boat when Strong Racing acquired it in 2020. She is in charge of fueling and general support.
Desi is married to U-9 teammate Brian and they have two daughters, Caroline and Julia.
ISSAQUAH, WA
Travis started racing hydroplanes in 2017 in outboard classes ASH hydro and AXH hydro, following in the footsteps of his dad who raced in various classes in 1960. He first became involved with the Unlimited class in 2019 as a crew member on the U-98 Graham Trucking American Dream.
He is proud father of daughter Desiraie
SOUTH LYON, MI
Jim has been involved in the Limited Inboard category since 1989, where he has built and owned several 1 Liter Modified boats that have won 11 National Championships, set 19 World Records and won multiple Divisional and National titles.
This will be Jim’s first year working in the Unlimited class, supporting the Strong Racing team with electrical systems and data analysis.
Jim is married to wife Jewel.
The U-1 was built in 2014 by the Ellstrom Racing Team led by Mike Hanson and carries hull number 2014-96.