2015 APBA Gold Cup

The 2015 APBA Gold Cup, the 111th running of the APBA Gold Cup race and the 50th running of the local event, was held on July 24, 25, and 26, 2015 on the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington. Contested over eight heats and a final on the 2.5-mile (4 km) oval, it was the first points-payin race of the 2015 H1 Unlimited season after the original first race, the Indiana's Governors Cup, was converted into an exhibition event after numerous delays. Jimmy Shane won the race, his second consecutive and all-time APBA Gold Cup win, the first win of the season, and the third APBA Gold Cup win for Miss Madison. J. Michael Kelly finished second, while Cal Phipps, Brian Perkins, and Scott Liddycoat rounded out the top five.

Jean Theoret won the pole with a speed of 160.509 miles per hour (258.314 km/h). Jimmy Shane, J. Michael Kelly, and Jean Theoret each won two heats apiece, with Scott Liddycoat and Cal Phipps winning the two remaining heats.

Qualifying
Jean Theoret ran the fastest lap in qualifying with a speed of 160.509 mph. However, due to an N2 violation, the team was fined $100 following the time trials.

Heat 1A (July 25)
Jean Theoret won Heat 1A with a top lap speed of 141.697 mph.

Heat 1B (July 25)
Jimmy Shane won Heat 1B with a top lap speed of 143.441 mph.

Heat 2A (July 26)
Heat 2A was scheduled to be run on Saturday, July 25, but, due to high winds, was moved to Sunday. J. Michael Kelly won Heat 2A with a top lap speed of 151.194 mph.

Heat 2B (July 26)
Like Heat 2A, Heat 2B was scheduled to be run on Saturday, July 25, but, due to high winds, was moved to Sunday. Scott Liddycoat won Heat 1A with a top lap speed of 144.763 mph.

Heat 3A (July 26)
Cal Phipps won Heat 3A with a top speed of 142.899 mph.

Heat 3B (July 26)
Jean Theoret won Heat 3B with a top lap speed of 148.129 mph. However, Theoret committed an unknown Level II penalty and thus was fined $250 and had 50 points deducted from his heat earnings.

Heat 4A (July 26)
Jimmy Shane won Heat 4A with a top lap speed of 144.999 mph.

Heat 4B (July 26)
J. Michael Kelly won Heat 4B with a top lap speed of 145.018 mph.

Final Heat (July 26)
Jimmy Shane won the Final Heat with a top lap speed of 145.018 mph to win his second consecutive and overall APBA Gold Cup, both with Miss Madison. Jean Theoret dominated the final, but was later disqualified due to a DMZ violation.