CHAMBERLAIN - A full field of Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association race boats and a contingent of NACCS Thunderboats, watched by a huge crowd of spectators made the first-ever Pepsi Racing Power Cup Challenge, staged on the Missouri River at Chamberlain-Oacoma a success.

In spite of wind gusts near 40 miles per hour which forced officials to shut down racing early Saturday, about 5,000 spectators turned out for the first-ever hydroplane races in South Dakota, according to the ULHRA Web site.

Races were completed under near-perfect weather conditions Sunday.

Kayleigh Perkins, of Seattle, inherited the early lead in Sunday's Pepsi Racing Power Cup finale when the boats of Paul Becker, of Bellevue, Wash., and J. Craig Fletcher, of Mercer Island, Wash., were both early crossing the start line.

Perkins, defending ULHRA series champion, used the slowing boat of Mike Sadlon, of Vero Beach, Fla., as a pick to force Greg Hopp, of Snohomish, Wash., to the outside of the final turn on the 1-1/4 mile Missouri River oval and hang on for the win. Hopp had closed to within three boats length of Perkins' UL-92 going into the final lap.

Marty Wolfe, of Sleger Ill., capitalized on a strong start and won wire-to-wire in the NACCS Thunderboat final.

Wolfe had trailed Dustin Echols, of Olympia, Wash., in the first three heats over the course of the weekend but prevailed in the Thunderboat final.

The South Dakota races, presented by River City Racin' of Chamberlain was just the first race of five straight weekends for the ULHRA boats. "The Gauntlet" continues this weekend, July 19 & 20, on Flathead Lake at Polson Mont., for the first-ever Anderson Radio Broadcasting "Radio Waves Regatta."

River City Racin' has a three year contract with the ULHRA for races on the

Missouri River. Next year's races are tentatively set for July 11-12, 2009.