8/30/2019
RacinBoys
Drag Boats set to return to Lake Lucas in 2020 for events under SDBA, KDBA sanctions
By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- After a year's absence, drag-boat racing is set to return to Lucas Oil Speedway's "Lake Lucas" in 2020 with three events on the schedule.
The Southern Drag Boat Association and Kentucky Drag Boat Association will co-sanction events next May 15-17 and again on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 5-6. The KDBA will sanction a standalone program June 13-14.
Race times, ticket pricing and camping information will be announced at a later date.
"We are glad to see the drag boats return to Lake Lucas in 2020," Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton said. "We've had a lot of calls and questions asking if we were going to ever bring them back. I'm really pleased that Dan Robinson (Lucas Oil Director of Racing Operations) was able to work with these sanctioning bodies to bring the boats back, with even more events, for 2020."
Lake Lucas was the world's first purpose-built drag boat racing lake when built in 2011. The facility played host to drag boat races for eight straight years until the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series was discontinued at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
The SDBA and KDBA both are long-established sanctioning bodies for the sport, having been around for more than 40 years. Many of the drivers who competed on the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series also race on those circuits in classes ranging from the pro divisions to personal watercraft.
"I think everybody is looking forward to coming back there," KDBA President Barry Salsman said. "Lucas is throwing some money into the purse and I think it's going to be a good thing. Everybody's looking forward to it.
"We've always ran bracket boats and occasionally ran pro boats. With Lucas getting involved, it gives us a chance to cater to pro boats. We want to give the fans a show. They are a crowd draw."
David Carroll, President of the SDBA, said his organization has co-sanctioned points races with the Lucas Oil Series at Lake Lucas in the past and is eager to return. He said there were some discussion on trying to schedule a race there this year, but that all parties decided to wait for 2020.
"We decided to make this a building year. You have to have a good foundation," Carroll said. "We slowed down a little bit and put a good foundation down. We're looking at having nine races on our series schedule next year.
"Lucas did a lot for our sport," Carroll added. "I'm looking forward to coming out there. It's an awesome facility. We just had a race with 128 boats. I think I can get 100-plus boats there from the series.
"We don't have (Top Fuel Hydro) boats right now, but we have the largest Alcohol (Top Alcohol Hydro) class that we've had in 7-8 years, a larger one than when Lucas was there. I look to have 9-10 Alcohol boats there next year."
Carroll and Salsman said racing on a purpose-built facility like Lake Lucas offers a big advantage over lakes and rivers. Several events on both series this year have been postponed due to high water levels.
"That's the nice thing about racing at Lucas, it's controlled," Carroll said. "You can't control the weather while you're there, but that lake, you can control the height of it because it's pumped in and pumped out."
Lake Lucas is approximately 4,000 feet long and 400 feet wide and the water approximately eight feet deep. The lake features an ultra wide in-ramp as well as dual out-ramps with one for each lane which provides for minimal downtime between runs. An RV overlook on the south side of the track is a great way to catch all of the racing action from the comfort of your RV. Covered, aluminum bleachers with back rests adorn the north side of the track as well as a complete concrete walkway for concessions and vendors.
For information on the Southern Drag Boat Association visit SDBAracing.com and for more about the Kentucky Drag Boat Association go to KDBA.net.
Larry Phillips Memorial this weekend: Action at Lucas Oil Speedway resumes on Saturday with the Lucas Oil MLRA Larry Phillips Memorial, paying $5,075 to win. Pitts Homes USRA B-Mods, O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks and Pure Stocks also will be in action with gates opening at 4 p.m., hot laps at 6:30 and opening ceremonies at 7.
For questions about tickets or camping for any event at Lucas Oil Speedway, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at Nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
