Last year was a record-breaking season for Auburn’s Dave Villwock, who piloted his U-16 Ellstrom Miss Elam Plus to his 10th Chevrolet Cup victory at Seafair.

Villwock’s win at Seafair in 2009 moved him past Bill Muncey on the all-time win list at Seattle’s stop on the H-1 Unlimited hydroplane circuit. And while this year’s race – now the Albert Lee Cup – might not have any records at stake, there is still some drama on the lake.

Coming into the Seafair weekend, Villwock – now piloting the U-96 Ellstrom Racing Spirit of Qatar – trails Steve David’s U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto boat by a scant 370 points, only two races remain in the season, the Albert Lee Cup and the Oryx Cup in Doha, Qatar on Nov. 18-20.

So far this season – which only features five races, compared to last year’s six-race season – Villwock and the U-96 have finished fifth at Madison, Ind., and first at Detroit’s Gold Cup.

At the Columbia Cup, on July 25 at the Tri-Cities, Villwock was not awarded a place and was penalized 150 points for an illegal lane change in the final heat.

And with just 100 points difference between first and second place in all the heats in this weekend’s Albert Lee Cup, Villwock and the U-96 need to race as much as possible against his rival David and the U-1.

“We just have to hope we get the chance to race the U-1 and beat them,” Villwock said. “If we are in separate heats and both winning, we don’t gain anything. The pressure is on now. We can’t afford to finish anywhere but first in any heat the rest of the season.”

Last year the hydroplane high points standing team race was decided in the last heat of the Oryx Cup race in Doha, with David beating out Villwock, 7,970 to 7,735.