STRONG RACING
U-9 BEACON PLUMBING
STRONG RACING
U-9 BEACON PLUMBING
Corey Peabody is once again behind the wheel of the U-9 Strong Racing Unlimited in 2024. An elementary school classmate of J. Michael Kelly, Peabody has been racing outboard hydroplanes alongside Kelly since 1998. Corey became a qualified H1 Unlimited hydroplane driver in 2016 after spending three years as a crew member for J. Michael Kelly.
He spent the 2019 season driving the U-98 Graham Trucking American Dream, finishing in a very respectable 5th place.
Peabody joined Strong Racing in 2021 and picked up his first career Unlimited victory at the 2021 HAPO Columbia Cup, in the hometown of owners Darrell & Vanessa Strong. In a thrilling victory at the 2022 Guntersville Hydrofest, Peabody won the most prestigious trophy in boat racing – the APBA Gold Cup – a first for himself and for Strong Racing.
The 2023 season saw a clean sweep for Strong Racing, winning every event – Guntersville and Tri-Cities for Corey while teammate J. Michael Kelly won Madison and his second APBA Gold Cup in Seattle. Corey finished in second place by only 84 points.
As part of a team reorganization in late 2022, Peabody has also assumed additional responsibilities in his new role as Team General Manager.
- Began racing outboard hydroplanes in 1998 alongside grade school classmate (and now Strong Racing teammate) J. Michael Kelly.
- First qualified as an H1 Unlimited driver in 2016, after spending 3 years as an H1 Unlimited crew member for J. Michael Kelly.
- His first race as a driver was the 2016 APBA Gold Cup in Detroit, Mich., driving the U-57, Spirit of Detroit for Ted Porter. (7th place finish)
- Claimed first ever H1 Unlimited victory at the 2021 HAPO Columbia Cup
- Won the 2022 APBA Gold Cup in the Guntersville Lake Hydrofest
- Finished on the podium at every race during the 2021 H1 Unlimited Season. He was the only driver to do so.
- Drove the U-98 Graham Trucking, American Dream, hydroplane for Rob Graham in 2019. He finished 5th Place in Driver National High Points
- Married to wife, Stacey, and has 3 children: daughters Ryley, and Leighton, and son Rayce.
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: White/Blue
- Builder: Ron Jones, Jr.
- Hull Built: 1992
- Length: 29’2″
- Width: 14′ 4″
- Weight: 6900 lbs
- Engine: T-55/L-7 Turbine
- Team Website: www.strongracing.com
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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 on numerous Unlimited teams since then. Mike now joins 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 wife Cindy and they have a daughter Courtney.
SEATTLE, WA
Ken’s primary responsibility on race weekends is propellers and boat set up. Ken began unlimited racing in 2000 with Harvey Motorsports where he learned computer tech, skid fin, wing, rudder, and prop duties. He helped build their new hull in 2003, then raced with Leland Racing in 2006-07.
Ken returned to racing in 2015 for Team Porter Racing and migrated to Graham Trucking Racing through 2019.
When he is not racing Ken spends time with soccer, fishing and camping with his wife Christine and sons Aiden and Ryan.
PORTLAND, OR
Bill has been a fan of the Unlimiteds since childhood and has been active in direct support of the sport since 1998. He has worked on websites, race reporting and has been crewing on a race team since 2006. He previously crewed on Bill Wurster’s U-8, Billy Schumacher’s U-37, Ted Porter’s U-5 and U-7, Graham Trucking’s U-12, the U-11 as a sponsor in 2022 and now Strong Racing’s U-8 & U-9 teams.
Bill has been married to wife Dee for 46 years, has 3 children, and 7 grandchildren
ENUMCLAW, WA
Brian got his start in boat racing working on the U-31 Circus Circus in 1989. Since then he has been a crew member with Jones Racing and Graham Trucking. He moved back to the U-9 team when Strong Racing acquired the boat in 2020. His duties include general mechanical adjustments and hull repair.
Brian is married to U-9 teammate Desi and they have two daughters, Caroline and Julia.
LAKE TAPPS, WA
Sam first got involved in boat racing when she met Jeff Campbell at age 18. She tried out a 1 liter in the late 80’s on Lake Tapps, and rode in the Miss Bardahl in 2019. Her first experience with Unlimiteds was during the early Budweiser days, and first worked on Unlimiteds when she joined Strong Racing in 2021.
Sam has a daughter, Vanessa who lives in Montgomery, TX. When not working on the U-9, she enjoys golf, landscaping, and refurbishing old pinball machines.
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 many Divisional and National titles. Jim also builds most of the engines currently running in the One Litre class today.
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.
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.
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 on numerous Unlimited teams since then. Mike now joins 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 wife Cindy and they have a daughter Courtney.
SEATTLE, WA
Ken’s primary responsibility on race weekends is propellers and boat set up. Ken began unlimited racing in 2000 with Harvey Motorsports where he learned computer tech, skid fin, wing, rudder, and prop duties. He helped build their new hull in 2003, then raced with Leland Racing in 2006-07.
Ken returned to racing in 2015 for Team Porter Racing and migrated to Graham Trucking Racing through 2019.
When he is not racing Ken spends time with soccer, fishing and camping with his wife Christine and sons Aiden and Ryan.
PORTLAND, OR
Bill has been a fan of the Unlimiteds since childhood and has been active in direct support of the sport since 1998. He has worked on websites, race reporting and has been crewing on a race team since 2006. He previously crewed on the U-8, U-37, U-5, U-7, U-12 and was a sponsor of the U-11 in 2022.
Bill has been married to wife Dee for 46 years, has 3 children, and 7 grandchildren
LAKE TAPPS, WA
Sam first got involved in boat racing when she met Jeff Campbell at age 18. She tried out a 1 liter in the late 80’s on Lake Tapps, and rode in the Miss Bardahl in 2019. Her first experience with Unlimiteds was during the early Budweiser days, and first worked on Unlimiteds when she joined Strong Racing in 2021.
Sam has a daughter, Vanessa. When not working on the U-9, she enjoys golf, landscaping, and refurbishing old pinball machines.
ENUMCLAW, WA
Brian got his start in boat racing working on the U-31 Circus Circus in 1989. Since then he has been a crew member with Jones Racing and Graham Trucking. He moved back to the U-9 team when Strong Racing acquired the boat in 2020. His duties include general mechanical adjustments and hull repair.
Brian is married to U-9 teammate Desi 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 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.
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.
The U-9 is by far the oldest hull in the fleet, being built in 1992 by Jones Racing. It has won dozens of races in the hands of some of the sport’s top drivers and has gathered three Gold Cup wins, by Mike Hanson in 2001, Andrew Tate in 2017 and Corey Peabody in 2022.
It has been flipped multiple times, the latest being in Madison in 2022. It was almost completely rebuilt for the 2023 season. It carries hull number 1992-102.5.