Jeff LeBlanc said he has always been attracted to racing and water.

That may seem like an odd combination for a resident of a landlocked state, but for him, it was natural.

So it’s not a surprise that when LeBlanc discovered the thrill of speed boat racing 13 years ago, the Moore native knew he had found his calling.

“A friend, who was an Oklahoma City cop, was racing,” LeBlanc said. “I decided I had to get me a boat. I’ve been doing it ever since. I’ve always enjoyed racing and water. You put the two together and that’s what I like.”

LeBlanc has seen some success since he purchased Blown Crazy, a 1978 Sainger Hydro, Blown 468 Chevrolet. With it he was the 2006 SDBA (Southern Drag Boat Association) Pro Eliminator Hi Points Champ, 2007 SDBA Pro Eliminator Hi Points runner-up, 2001 Smokin’ in the Cove 6-second champion, 2002 Smokin’ in the Cove 6-second runner-up, 2003 Smokin in the Cove 6-second runner-up and 2007 Smokin in the Cove 6-second champion.

Yet, there is one race LeBlanc hopes to add to his resume. His will be one of 140 teams from across the country competing today and Sunday in the Oklahoma City Nationals Professional Drag Boat Racing, which has been absent since 2006.

“This race is also anticipated because there has not been one since 2006 and most Oklahomans really don’t have the opportunity to see this level of motorsports unless they travel to Texas or Missouri,” said Stacy Jones of MindEye. “Another reason that the Oklahoma City race has enjoyed such success in previous years is because Oklahoma is centrally located among the major states where the SDBA members live.”

For the third time in five years, it’s being held on the Oklahoma River, which has become a favorite of many of the competitors.

“It has the best water,” Moore’s Kevin Helm said. “And it’s my hometown. Everybody likes the water here.”

The first time the Nationals were held on the Oklahoma River, an accident took the life of a driver. But that has not kept drivers and fans from flocking out to the river to see the high-speed action.

“The accident was actually in 2005, and as awful as it was, it probably won’t deter the hard-core race fans or thrill-seekers,” Jones said. “Since there hasn’t been a race since 2006, I have heard that the race teams are extremely excited to be coming back, and we hope that the fans share that excitement as well.”

According to Jones, the races were scheduled in 2007 and 2008, but the previous promoter canceled them due to weather and debris in the river.

Now that it is back, the Oklahoma City Nationals officials are expecting 20,000 to 30,000 spectators to make their way to the races.

“The event in Oklahoma City is different from most other events because it is held in the city near all of the amenities and entertainment,” Jones said. “Many of the races are held out of a town on a lake where the spectators have to travel quite a ways to enjoy what the host city has to offer.”

But for drivers like LeBlanc, the OKC Nationals provides them with the opportunity to not only compete at high level but also enjoy their family and friends. LeBlanc’s crew is made up of Dalton LeBlanc, Cindy LeBlanc, Steve Abernathy, Larry Johnson, Billy Davison and Kevin Collins, who are all family members or friends.

“I have a lot of friends and family involved,” LeBlanc said. “We have fun on and off the water. It is one, big race family. It gives us a chance to hang out with one another.”

However, at the end of the weekend, all the competitors will be gunning to be on top. The prize breakdown depends on the number of entries in a given class. There is usually a base payout for each class and a minimum of three to four teams have to enter to reach the base payout.

For a fairly high class like Pro Mod, the payout is usually around $3,500. First place will get 80 percent, with 20 percent going to second place.

There are a total of 13 different classes hitting the water. Both LeBlanc and Helm are competing in the Pro Eliminator Class, which is the 8-second quarter-mile, where boats reach speeds around 150 miles per hour.

Helm, who has only been racing for five years, has no illusions about how tough it would be for him and his boat, Liquid Asset, to take first place. But that doesn’t mean he’s not excited about his chances.

“My goal is to win it,” Helm said. “It will lake quite a bit of luck. There are lots of competitors, from all over. This is my second year in it. I have never won a race. If I did win, it would be like winning the Super Bowl.”

Michael Kinney

366-3537

mkinney@normantranscript.com