With $75,000 in cash prizes—$40,000 of which is earmarked for the “Run What You Brung” class—the organizers of the third annual Lake Race June 5-7 on the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri are hoping to attract and even larger fleet than they did in 2014. To that end, they’ve changed the event’s two-day format. Boats that compete in the various classes of the Offshore Powerboat Association will race on Saturday and Sunday. Points for each day’s racing will combined to determine the overall winners in each class.

Said defending Lake Race “Run What You Brung”-class champion Keith Holmes, “Last year, we took home $18,000. That’s a nice chunk of change for an offshore race.” Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix

With no limitations on horsepower or both length, the participants in the Run What You Brung class will qualify on Saturday but race on Sunday afternoon. Racing action on each day will be broadcasted live through the Fox Sports affiliate (as well on the radio) in Springfield, Mo., according to key Lake Race organizer Alvin Heathman.

“I am never satisfied—I want the Lake Race to continue to grow each year,” said Heathman. “You try to provide racers what they want and need, and provide sponsors what they want and what they need. Last year, the ‘big boys’ raced on both days. This year, we’ll have them qualify on Saturday afternoon and race Sunday afternoon. That should help keep spectators around on Sunday.”

While Heathman said he does not yet have a count of boats that will compete from OPA, he has heard directly from several notable racers who will complete. Keith Holmes of CK Motorsports and Barry Glovick will defend the overall title they earned last year in Cat Can Do. CMS team owner and Lake of the Ozarks local Bob Bull is planning on campaigning both of his Marine Technology, Inc., catamarans in the race. Heathman said that Recycler Mystic catamaran owner Don Onken, Racing For Cancer’s Randy Sweers and Marine Concepts Randy Kent have indicated that they may compete this year.

“Last year, we took home $18,000,” said Holmes, whose CK Motorsports shop is based in Nunica, Mich. “That’s a nice chunk of change for an offshore race. I like all the people in that area. The fans that come to the race are knowledgeable performance boaters, so you have a good, educated core audience. It also helps with our marketing. We do a good bit of business in that area.

“Alan and Jeff, those guys do a great job,” he continued. “They are always calling to see what we need and now they can help. I’ve been on the other side of this a race promoter, so I know what it’s like. So I like to support those guys. We’re coming to defend our title in Cat Can Do, and Ed Smith and I will be bringing the Cleveland Construction boat to race both days.”

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