At a glance

Tickets: Available on-site or through Ticketmaster (206-628-0888). Tomorrow free; Saturday, $20; Sunday, $25. Discounts: Free each day to anyone with active military ID and to children under 12 when accompanied by an adult. Two-day general-admission tickets for Saturday and Sunday can be purchased for $20 at Union 76 gas stations.

Pit passes: $10 each day, available only on-site.

Guided pit tours: Today and tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $5 or free with any Oh Boy! Oberto beef jerky wrapper (3.5 ounces or larger).

TV/radio: TV — KIRO (Ch. 7), beginning at 10 a.m. with Steve Raible and Chip Hanauer. Radio — Progressive Talk (1090 AM) provides all-day coverage beginning at 10 a.m. Heat races will also be simulcast on KZOK (102.5 FM).

Parking: None on-site.

Shuttles: Tomorrow, from Safeco Field, free, every 20 minutes starting at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday from Safeco Field and the Boeing facility just off Exit 5 off I-405 near Coulon Park in Renton. Round-trip ticket is $3; children under 12 ride free. Buses will depart both locations every 10 minutes starting at 7:30 a.m. Final bus departs from the same location as the dropoff at 6 p.m. Saturday and an hour after the championship heat Sunday.

Concessions: Genesee Park will be filled with a variety of food and beverage booths. Fans are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages into the admission area.

For more information: 206-728-0123 or www.seafair.com

Schedule of events

(subject to change)

Tomorrow

Unlimited qualifying, 9:45 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.; driver autograph session, 11:30 a.m.; unlimited lights testing and qualifying, 3 p.m.

Saturday

Unlimited lights testing and qualifying, 8:30 a.m.; unlimited qualifying, 9:30 a.m., unlimited lights Heat 1A, 10:15 a.m.; unlimited lights Heat 1B, 10:30 a.m.; driver autograph session, 11:30 a.m.; unlimited Heat 1A 1:10 p.m.; unlimited Heat 1B 1:25 p.m.; unlimited lights Heat 2A, 2:05 p.m.; unlimited lights Heat 2B, 2:20 a.m.; unlimited testing and qualifying, 3:45 p.m.

Sunday

Unlimited Heat 2A, 10:50 a.m.; unlimited Heat 2B, 11:10 a.m.; unlimited Heat 3A, 1:10 p.m.; unlimited Heat 3B, 1:30 p.m.; unlimited provisional heat, 3:55 p.m.; unlimited lights championship heat, 4:20 p.m.; unlimited championship heat, 4:40 p.m.

Drivers

J. Michael Kelly

Boat: U-2 Seattle Boat presents Graham Trucking

Owner: Jim Harvey

Home port: Seattle

Hometown: Puyallup

Age: 26

Victories: 0

Race outlook: Now in his second year, Kelly is an up-and-comer who always has his boat in the thick of things. The U-2, however, is an older boat that has had its struggles this season and didn't make the finals at the Tri-Cities. Kelly will have to work hard to win this one.

Jimmy King

Boat: U-3 Cooper Motorsports

Owner: Ed Cooper

Home port: Evansville, Ind.

Hometown: Richmond, Mich.

Age: 44

Victories: 0

Race outlook: This remains the only piston-powered boat on the circuit. The U-3 skipped this race last season in protest of the sport's former ruling organization but is back in the fold. Boat suffered some major damage at Tri-Cities but should be ready to go here, and is a threat to win if all breaks right.

Mike Weber

Boat: U-5 Formulaboats

Owner: Chad Sanderson

Home port: Auburn, Ind.

Hometown: Dawsonville, Ga.

Age: 54

Victories: 0

Race outlook: Sanderson is one of the new owners in the sport and purchased this boat from Llumar owner Bill Wurster. Boat has been a consistent finisher, making every final heat so far. But it's not one of the faster boats and would need help to win. Weber replaced Dick Lynch in the cockpit after the second race.

Steve David

Boat: U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto

Owner: Citizens of the city of Madison, Ind.

Home port: Madison, Ind.

Hometown: Lighthouse, Fla.

Age: 51

Victories: 5

Race outlook: Boat is second in the season point standings and David is poised to take the lead in the driver points standings now that J.W. Myers is sidelined. One of the boats that can give the Elam its most serious competition when all breaks right, as shown by its win in Evansville. David, racing since 1988, is one of the classier men in the sport.

Jean Theoret

Boat: U-8 Llumar Window Film

Owner: Bill Wurster

Home port: Seattle

Hometown: Lery, Quebec

Age: 43

Victories: 0

Race outlook: Maybe the most serious competition to the Elam, Llumar might have won in Tri-Cities had it not barely jumped the gun in the final. Theoret is a rookie on this circuit but a veteran of Grand Prix racing who has impressed with his upbeat personality and his driving ability. Owner Bill Wurster is predicting a win in Seattle.

Terry Troxell

Boat: U-13 Spirit of Detroit

Owner: Dave Bartush

Home port: Detroit

Hometown: Gig Harbor

Age: 57

Victories: 2

Race outlook: Bartush is the other new owner in the sport. Decided to run a week before the Gold Cup in Detroit and the boat pulled off a miracle win on its home waters. This is an old boat that has raced as the Miller American, Circus Circus and Smokin' Joe's, and was most recently owned by Kim Gregory.

Dave Villwock

Boat: U-16 Miss Elam

Owner: Erick Ellstrom

Home port: Ballard

Hometown: Auburn

Age: 49

Victories: 47

Race outlook: The unquestioned favorite now that Villwock is in the cockpit. This was generally regarded as the fastest boat on the circuit entering the season and Villwock — the longtime driver of the Bud — made a seamless transition last week, driving it to a win in the Tri-Cities. Villwock is the third-winningest driver of all time.

Ken Muscatel

Boat: U-25 Silver Dollar Casinos presents Miss Rock

Owner: Ken Muscatel

Home port: Seattle

Hometown: Seattle

Age: 56

Victories: 0

Race outlook: The likeable Muscatel is still seeking his first career win in his 14th year on the circuit. The boat seems to be running better than in past years but ran into some problems with rules regarding fuel flow in the Tri-Cities that prevented it from making the final. Could surprise in Seattle.

Jerry Hale

Boat: U-99 Leland Racing

Owner: Fred Leland

Home port: Kirkland

Hometown: Hayward, Calif.

Age: 59

Victories: 0

Race outlook: Hale did a complete flip in a heat on Saturday in the Tri-Cities but emerged uninjured. The boat, however, suffered significant damage and Leland will likely use one of his other boats to race as the U-99. Leland could have three boats in the pits if he also decides to race one of his hulls as the Miss Thriftway.

Greg Hopp

Boat: U-100 Miss Beacon Plumbing

Owner: Fred Leland

Home port: Kirkland

Hometown: Snohomish

Age: 37

Victories: 0

Race outlook: This is the most competitive of the boats in Leland's fleet and won in the Tri-Cities in 2001 with Troxell driving. Hopp, however, is still looking for his first career win and will need a few breaks to get it this weekend. Showed some life in the Tri-Cities, however, as it was officially the fourth-highest qualifier.

Previous races

Columbia Cup, Tri-Cities

1, U-16 Miss Elam, Dave Villwock, 143.737; 2, U-8, Oh Boy! Oberto, Steve David, 139.841; 3, U-3 Cooper Motorsports, Jimmy King, 134.552; 4, U-5 Formulaboats.com, Mike Weber, 124.212; 5, U-8 Llumar Window Film, Jean Theoret, 140.503; 6, U-100 Beacon Plumbing, Greg Hopp, 121.421.

Gold Cup, Detroit

1, U-13 Spirit of Detroit, Terry Troxell, 142.448; 2, U-16 Miss Elam J.W. Myers, 139.520; 3, U-5 Formulaboats.com, Mike Weber, 136.806; U-100 Leland Racing, Greg Hopp, did not start; U-2 Graham Trucking, J. Michael Kelly did not finish; U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto, Steve David, disqualified.

Madison Regatta, Madison, Ind.

1, U-16 Miss Elam, J.W. Myers, 135.245; 2, U-3 Cooper Motorsports, Jimmy King, 133.449; 3, U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto, Steve David, 130.933; 4, U-2 Graham Trucking, J. Michael Kelly, 125.756; 5, U-5 Formulaboats.com, Dick Lynch, 110.729; 6, U-8 Llumar Window Film, Jean Theoret, did not finish.

Chevrolet Freedom Festival, Evansville, Ind.

1, U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto, Steve David, (speeds not available); 2, U-16 Miss Elam, J.W. Myers; 3, U-3 Cooper Motorsports, Jimmy King; 4, U-5 Formulaboats.com, Dick Lynch; U-8 Llumar Window Film, Jean Theoret, did not start; U-100 Leland Racing, Greg Hopp, did not finish.

Boat standings
Boat	Points
1. U-16 Miss Elam	6,175
2. U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto	4,610
3. U-3 Cooper Motorsports	4,135
4. U-8 Llumar Window Film	3,776
5. U-5 Formulaboats.com	3,433
6. U-2 Graham Trucking	2,248
7. U-100 Leland Racing	2,226
8. U-13 Spirit of Detroit	1,962
9. U-25 Miss Rock-Silver Dollar Casino	1,272
10. U-99 Leland Racing	30

Driver standings
Driver	Points
1. J.W. Myers	4,650
2. Steve David	4,610
3. Jimmy King	4,135
4. Jean Theoret	3,776
5. J. Michael Kelly	2,248
6. Greg Hopp	2,226
7. Terry Troxell	1,962
8. Mike Weber	1,848
9. Dick Lynch	1,585
10. Dave Villwock	1,525
11. Ken Muscatel	1,272
12. Jerry Hale	30

Seafair winners
Year	Boat, driver
1951	Slo-mo-shun V, Lou Fageol
1952	Slo-mo-shun IV, Stan Dollar
1953	Slo-mo-shun IV, Joe Taggart
1954	Slo-mo-shun V, Lou Fageol
1955	Gale V, J. Lee Schoenith
1956	Shanty I, Russ Schleech
1957	Miss Thriftway, Bill Muncey
1958	Hawaii Kai III, Jack Regas
1959	Maverick, Bill Stead
1960	Miss Thriftway, Bill Muncey
1961	Miss Bardahl, Ron Musson
1962	Miss Century 21, Bill Muncey
1963	Tahoe Miss, Chuck Thompson
1964	Miss Bardahl, Ron Musson
1965	Miss Bardahl, Ron Musson
1966	My Gypsy, Jim Ranger
1967	Miss Bardahl, Bill Schumacher
1968	Miss US, Bill Muncey
1969	Miss Budweiser, Bill Sterett Sr.
1970	Miss Budweiser, Dean Chenoweth
1971	Pride of Pay N' Pak, Bill Schumacher
1972	Atlas Van Lines, Bill Muncey
1973	Pay N' Pak, Mickey Remund
1974	Pay N' Pak, George Henley
1975	Pay N' Pak, George Henley
1976	Miss Budweiser, Mickey Remund
1977	Atlas Van Lines, Bill Muncey
1978	Atlas Van Lines, Bill Muncey
1979	Atlas Van Lines, Bill Muncey
1980	Atlas Van Lines, Bill Muncey
1981	Miss Budweiser, Dean Chenoweth
1982	Atlas Van Lines, Chip Hanauer
1983	Miss Budweiser, Jim Kropfeld
1984	Miss Budweiser, Jim Kropfeld
1985	Miller American, Chip Hanauer
1986	Miller American, Chip Hanauer
1987	Miss Budweiser, Jim Kropfeld
1988	Miss Budweiser, Tom D'Eath
1989	Miss Circus Circus, Chip Hanauer
1990	Miss Circus Circus, Chip Hanauer
1991	Miss Budweiser, Scott Pierce
1992	The Tide, George Woods, Jr.
1993	Miss Budweiser, Chip Hanauer
1994	Pico American Dream, Dave Villwock
1995	Miss Budweiser, Chip Hanauer
1996	Pico American Dream, Dave Villwock
1997	Pico American Dream, Mark Evans
1998	Miss Budweiser, Dave Villwock
1999	Miss Budweiser, Dave Villwock
2000	Miss Budweiser, Dave Villwock
2001	Miss Elam Plus, Nate Brown
2002	Miss Budweiser, Dave Villwock
2003	Miss Budweiser, Dave Villwock
2004	Miss Budweiser, Dave Villwock