KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) _ Dave Villwock drove Spirit of Qatar to an easy victory in his first elimination heat at the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup on Saturday. Villwock took the lead in heat 1A coming out of the first turn and was never seriously challenged. He averaged 142.526 mph for the three lap heat. J. Michael Kelly in Degree Men finished second in a close duel with J.W. Myers in Peters & May for two laps, before pulling away. Jeff Bernard drove Graham Trucking to first in heat 1B, with an average speed of 145.478 mph. Scott Liddycoat was second in Valken.com, and Brian Perkins took third in Albert Lee. Heat 1C proved to be a disappointment for Steve David in Oh Boy! Oberto. He passed the score-up buoy too soon before the start and had to run an extra lap. The miscue before the start dropped him to fourth.
