Reprinted from Tri-City Herald, July 9, 1972
Even if Bill Muncey doesn't win today's President's Cup Regatta on the Potomac River, the 44-year-old unlimited hydroplane veteran is virtually assured of this fourth national championship.
The only unlimited pilot with a real chance of catching Muncey for the national points standings was Billy Schumacher, who stunned hydroplane racing last week with his resignation from the crew of Seattle-based Pride of Pay 'n Pak.
Schumacher's decision to call it quits, at least for the seven-race, 1972 schedule, leaves him with 3,725 points. Muncey, two-time defending President's Cup champion, has 4,700. No other driver is close to Muncey's leading point total.
Schumacher was openly critical of racing conditions during the last two events. The Detroit Gold Cup was held on the flood-swollen waters of the Detroit River, and last Tuesday's Madison, Ind., World Championship Race was postponed from Sunday because of floating debris on the Ohio River caused by tropical storm Agnes.
Schumacher, a five-time world champion at only 29, will probably be replaced by either Bill Sterett, Sr., who came out of retirement to pilot the Pay 'n Pak at Madison, or by Billy Sterett, Jr., whose brother Terry drives Miss Budweiser.
Schumacher, of course, will not be here for the seventh annual Atomic Cup on the Columbia, July 23. Schumacher won the Atomic Cup aboard Miss Bardahl in 1967 and last spring set an unofficial lap record while testing the Pay 'n Pak on the Columbia.
The Pay 'n Pak went into the 1972 unlimited season as just about everybody's favorite to end Miss Budweiser's string as national champion at three years. Schumacher had finished the 1971 season by winning the last three races.
But in Detroit, the Atlas Van Lines crew, headed by former driver Bill Cantrell, spent the winter putting modifications on Muncey's boat. Atlas won the first three races of 1972, setting speed records wherever it went.
Muncey, who has never won the Atomic Cup, is the clear favorite to win his sixth President's Cup overall. His stiffest competition is expected from Pay 'n Pak, Miss Budweiser and the GoGale, the Atlas sister ship out of Detroit which is also listed as Atlas Van Lines II to distinguish it from Muncey's boat.
Other boats checked into the pits by late Friday afternoon were Timex, Towne Club, and Country Boy.
There had been some concern whether debris on the Potomac could be cleared in time for the regatta. Apparently it was.
Al Bauer, one of the race officials, said Friday, "The river's in better shape than I've seen it in 38 years."
