Andrew Tate becomes first rookie winner of Albert Lee Cup at Seafair since 1956

Andrew Tate grabbed the inside lane on the Lake Washington course and grabbed the first win by a rookie at Seafair since 1956.

Tate made the perfect move in his U-9 Sound Propeller presents Les Schwab Tires boat during pre-race jockeying Sunday and held off Jimmy Shane in the U-1 HomeStreet Bank to claim the Albert Lee Cup at Seafair on Sunday.

“We spent the entire time after the third heat drawing up different scenarios in the truck,” Tate said as those around him celebrated in the Stan Sayres Pits. “Kind of hoping and praying that the (U-1) and (U-5, Graham Trucking) would go after each other and forget about the Les Schwab boat.”

So what was the plan?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I might want to use it next year.”

Whatever the plan, it worked perfectly. With Tate on the inside lane, Shane was unable to run him down — though Shane came within a boat length or two on the final turn of the final lap.

“That was what the fans come here to see,” said Shane, who finished second in a close heat for the second consecutive year. “That was a boat race.”

Tate’s first win came at this site, where he father, veteran hydroplane driver Mark Tate, had four runner-up finishes in the 1990s.

Mark didn’t see his son’s first win as the family house was being sold and packing needed to be done over the weekend.

“Mark is probably back in Michigan with a big smile,” said H1 Unlimited commissioner Steve David

“(My father has) been super influential in the start of my career,” Tate said, “giving me advice, supporting me — giving me the time off work to do something ... the whole family loves.”

Tate has had a strong rookie season. He was fourth in the season-opening race July 3 in Madison, Indiana. He was the No. 2 qualifier last weekend in the Tri-Cities, but mechanical problems kept him from racing in the Sunday heats.

Tate has drawn a few comparisons to Shane, who had great success early in his career. Shane has won the past three National High Points titles.

“(Tate’s) young, he’s good looking, he’s great for the sport,” Shane said.

Tate was understandably emotional after his first win.

“It’s indescribable. Cloud nine. It’s a dream come true,” he said.

PIT STOPS

The last rookie to win at Seafair was Jim Ranger in the My Gypsy boat in 1956. … Tate’s win ended a three-race winning streak at Seafair by the U-5 Graham Trucking, the past two driven by J.Michael Kelly. Shane started the streak in 2013. … Penalties were plentiful over the weekend. All six of the prelim heats saw penalties. Three of them were collected by Jean Theoret in the U-16 Oh Boy! Oberto. Theoret was the top qualifier on Friday, but he was seventh in points heading into the finals. That places him as the trailer boat (which starts outside and well behind the pack). He didn’t finish the final heat after breaking a propellor shaft. … The Graham Trucking Cup, which was a Grand Prix-class race, saw a “flip and win” when veteran driver Gregg Hopp flipped his boat during a prelim heat on Saturday, but rallied to win the final.

This story was originally published August 7, 2016 at 11:12 PM with the headline "Andrew Tate becomes first rookie winner of Albert Lee Cup at Seafair since 1956."