Lake Elsinore, CA- The National Jet Boat Association, the country’s oldest drag boat racing organization, is pleased to announce the addition of Lucas Oil as the title sponsor of the Thunder in the Channel race, March 21-22, 2009. The return of dragboat racing to Southern California and a partnership with one of the racing world’s largest supporters couldn’t come at a better time. The NJBA is coming off a fantastic ’08 season that saw the implementation of a state-of-the-art timing system, as well as new and exciting racing classes for the ’09 season. Lucas Oil is adding $5,000 to the Thunder in the Channel purse in the Top Alcohol Flatbottom and Hydro classes, as well as providing continency product and apparel for the rest of the racing classes. The winner in Top Alcohol Hydro will take home $2,100 and the runner up will earn $900. In Top Alcohol Flatbottom, the winner will score $1,400 and the runner-up will receive $600. The NJBA has also doubled the payout for winners in all the other pro classes and brackets at this race. Racers will receive $500, a Lucas Oil gift bag with assorted products. Lucas Oil will also be handing out cases of synthetic oil to the racer with the best reaction time of the weekend, and the bracket racer with the best ET of the weekend. All totaled, this event will have a payout of over $18,000!