Kent’s Jeff Bernard drove the Formulaboats.com to the unlimited hydroplane team’s first win of the season and his second career victory, taking the 31st annual Thunder on the Ohio on Sunday.

Puyallup’s J. Michael Kelly was second in the Graham Trucking boat, followed by Floridian Steve David in the Oh Boy! Oberto hydroplane

Bernard took advantage of Jimmy King’s misfortune. On the third lap of the final, the propeller belonging to King’s Master Tire entry broke, damaging the bottom of the hull and allowing Bernard to take the lead that he never relinquished.

Bernard was able to hold off Kelly, his teammate, and grab the win by four boat lengths.

“When I saw the U3 go down, I had a big smile,” Bernard said. “Then I looked to my right and I saw my teammate, J. Michael Kelly. Well, I knew I had my work cut out for me.

“We have two boats for one team but when it comes to that last heat, it is every man for himself.”

The afternoon began in wild fashion. Auburn’s Dave Villwock, the Chevrolet Cup at Seafair champion and winner of three of the four races on the ABRA (American Boat Racing Association) circuit this season, went end-over-end in his Ellstrom Elam Plus hydroplane in heat 1A. The crash severely damaged the boat, ending the day for Villwock and his crew.

Villwock walked safely away from the crash, but lost considerable ground to David, the national high-points leader and defending series champion.

Villwock had won 10 of the last 13 Evansville races.

Next stop for the ABRA circuit is overseas in Doha, Qatar for the Oryx Cup World Championship on Nov. 12-14.