Dave Villwock wins Seafair Chevrolet Cup after Jean Theoret penalized

Who won the 58th running of the Seafair Chevrolet Cup?

As of this Sunday afternoon, the champion is Dave Villwock and the U-1 Miss Ellstrom Elam Plus, but that is pending an official protest by the U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing, the unlimited hydroplane that actually crossed the finish line first.

Driver Jean Theoret was assessed a one-minute penalty for being "off plane" — failing to get his boat high enough out of the water — after the one-minute mark to the start of the race and fell from first to fifth. Team owner Billy Schumacher immediately wrote out a non-refundable $500 check to file an official protest he hopes will be resolved some time today.

The team cited the overturn of the 2004 Gold Cup as precedent when Nate Brown was given the win after Villwock and the Miss Budweiser had accepted the trophy.

"We've been robbed, we beat them fair and square," Theoret said. "It was a bad call by the referee. There were three of us [Theoret, Villwock and Steve David] all going the same speed so why just call me? If you penalize one of us you have to penalize all of us."

Villwock learned of the penalty just after the first turn and backed off. Theoret didn't learn until after the first lap had been completed. Fans listening to the official radio broadcast piped in over loudspeakers didn't find out until after the victory had been called for Theoret.

"The fans got ripped off, too," Schumacher said.

Four boats jockeyed for position to grab the key inside lane for the start of the race. All slowed ("I think I was in reverse," David joked) but only Theoret hadn't speeded up by the one-minute gun.

Villwock said it was all by plan. He cut across the infield and forced Theoret to speed up to stay in lane one. That meant that Theoret had to fall off plane or hit the start/finish line too early.

"Whether it worked or not was dependent on whether the referees actually adhered to the rules," Villwock said. "I'm happy to say they did. It's a judgment call and when we're this close, those calls have to be made."

Chief referee Mike Noonan was unavailable for comment.

If the win stands up, (the appeal goes to the same governing body that made the original ruling), it is Villwock's ninth win at Seafair, tying him with Bill Muncey for the most wins on Lake Washington.

It also gives Villwock 56 career wins, six fewer than Muncey and five fewer than Chip Hanauer.

"In a perfect world if I got my wish I could get 61 wins and be even with Chip and let Bill be Bill," Villwock said. "Whether I ever get that close, who knows? Bill was one of the most exemplary people in this sport if I won more than him I don't think it would have any meaning to me."

It was the first win for Villwock since he won in the Miss Budweiser in 2004.

"We could go fast, but we couldn't race here," Villwock said. "We've really struggled. We got a gift with the wind so we hone our combinations in the rough water. When there are seven boats on the water, it's a lot like those rough, windy conditions."

Villwock and Theoret naturally disagreed who would have won had there been no penalties.

"I was pulling up to him when I heard there he had a one-minute penalty," Villwock said. "It's not a good idea to drive the boat hard when the owner is screaming 'one-minute penalty, one-minute penalty' in your ear. I could have won."

Theoret, the 2005 and 2006 champion, said Villwock would never have been able to get around him.

"We had an awesome boat, we had a great start and the race was done right there," Theoret said. "To get the victory and have it taken away from you is a shame."

Villwock admitted he would change the starting rules if it was up to him.

"The fans need to know that the guy out front is the one who wins," Villwock said.

David finished third, but moved up to second with the penalty and takes a 1,023-point lead over Theoret going into the final race in San Diego on Sept. 21.