Powerboat Does A Full Backflip At 200 MPH, Sticks The Landing, Keeps Going

Independence Day weekend always means a lot of activity on the water, be it on lakes, rivers or in the ocean.

One of the events that took place this past weekend occurred on the Ohio River with the 2023 Madison Regatta Indiana Governor’s Cup in Madison, Indiana.

The event, held annually on 4th of July weekend since 1951, is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association.

The Madison Regatta was the second of four events that will be held in 2023.

During the fifth and final heat of this year’s Madison Regatta, the Bucket List Racing entry from Snohomish, Wash. did something unexpected when it did a complete backflip at around 200 MPH, and kept on going.

Despite the amazing landing, the driver of the powerboat, Dustin Echols was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation but was not seriously injured, according to a press release.

Footage of the wild flip was taken from several angles…

Following the wild ride taken by Echols, event organizers canceled the remainder of the H1 Unlimited Racing Series event.

It was the second year in a row that a powerboat race in Madison ended with a blow-over accident.

J. Michael Kelly of Bonney Lake, Wash., the driver of Beacon Electric, was named the event winner based on points he had collected in preliminary heat racing during the weekend. He was second in one of his heats on day one and was the winner of the first two preliminary heats that were held on day two.

It was Echols’ flip and then sticking the landing that most fans are going to remember, however.

“That’s incredible. Looks like Earnhardt at Daytona in 97,” another person tweeted.

https://twitter.com/_masc0t/status/1675902372516618241

“I’d like a view inside the cockpit when this guy landed and realized he was still going! That’s insanity!” someone else wrote.

“Anakin skywalker did this while pod racing as a young boy. Unmoved,” another person joked.