WAKEFIELD, Mich. (WLUC) - Tuesday was the first day of the Wakefield Outboard Nationals. The races run through Thursday, July 25.

Various classes and divisions of outboard race boats, sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association, will be racing on Sunday Lake.

"They’re held every year annually in a different location and they try to move it around the country. Every four years we come here to Wakefield, Michigan,” said the 2019 Wakefield Outboard Nationals Announcer, Scott Glassner.

The 2019 Wakefield Outboard Nationals attracts athletes from all over the world. This is the 17th time the races have been held in Wakefield, dating back to 1980.

"The community is very excited. This brings in a lot of money for gas stations, restaurants, the stores, a lot of people are coming out to watch,” said Race Committee Co-Chair, John Siira.

It's not just the community that is excited about this week's races, 18-year-old Jared Pavlick is one of the 220 racers excited, and nervous, about the results of this week. Pavlick started racing with his family when he was just 9 years old.

"My favorite part about racing is probably working with my family as a team to try to get the fastest stuff and to win as a family,” said Pavlick.

Pavlick's dad and brother are also competing in this week's races. The winner of each race gets a trophy and bragging rights.

"The races are broken down into what they call flights. And then there are several classes in each flight. The total number of heats for the week is about 80,” explained Glassner. “So you will see all different kinds of boats. You'll see runabouts, which are the pointed nose boats, you'll see the hydroplanes, which has the pickle forks, all various types of classes motorizes and that stuff.”

Organizers of the event say it costs about $10,000 to hold the races, but they say it’s worth it.

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