The Southern Drag Boat Association has kicked off its 2018 racing season in Waco. The last time the SDBA visited Waco was in 2014.
The events started on Friday morning and wrapped up Sunday evening.
SDBA staff says 600 racers hit the water using 120 boats and that more than 2,500 spectators showed up to watch them race down the 1,000 ft course.
"We've got everything from jet skis here to top fuel," said David Carroll, vice president of SDBA. "There's a bunch of jet skis that go as slow as 40 to 50 miles per hour to top fuel that will go 270 miles per hour."
Bryan Sanders is a top fuel hydro driver who traveled from Houston for this weekend's event. He's a second-generation racer who's been doing this since 2003.
"I watched my dad do it. I was a little kid running around here a long time ago, 12 years old running around here at the Waco race just watching him race," Sanders said.
Sanders also holds the world record in the top fuel hydro with 268 miles per hour at 1,000 feet.
"I've raced dragsters and drag bikes and motorcycles, but there's something about the boats. I love the speed, I love to race, there's just something about the boats that are a little different from everything else."
The SDBA is based in Oklahoma but travels across multiple states for races. The next race will be San Angelo next month.
For the full racing schedule for 2018, click here.
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