"Shootout 38 on the Horizon: Reflecting, Rising, and Ready for 2026,”

Lake of the Ozarks Shootout
Oct 30
4 min read

by Christy Wagner, Editor

A breathtaking golden hour over Lazy Gators, providing the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening at the live auction.

With the changing of leaves and slow, but assured, drop in early morning and late-night temperatures, autumn is knocking at our front door, peering through our open windows, and rocking our boats. Like every fall season at the Lake of the Ozarks, there is a palpable, so-intense-it-almost-seems-tangible stir in the air of transformation: a universal slowdown, reprieve from endless days filled with stalled sunsets, and a subtle push to ‘hibernate’ in anticipation of many off-season fundraisers, football (go Chiefs!), upcoming holidays, ample family time, and a stark reminder to never lose count of our many blessings. It’s truly a beautiful time to be alive and to call the Ozark Mountains home.

For the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, it’s a time to reflect on what went well, what could be improved upon, and a palpable, so-intense-it-almost-seems-tangible feeling of excitement for Shootout 38 in August of 2026. Much like this glorious fall season, we are here to rock your boats, too.

Reflection: 2025’s Notable Wins

When it comes to this year’s races, the Top Gun winners, ¾-mile course trailblazers, and class record setters speak for themselves. As we highlighted in last month’s newsletter, a handful of never-before-seen speeds were clinched, and past ¾-mile course records were, quite frankly, obliterated. There is a new Top Gun in town, and Darana Hybrid’s astonishing 242-mile-per-hour win blew even the best of our optimists and naysayers out of the water.

New Top Gun in town, Darana Hybrid, running an astonishing 242-mile-per-hour pass. — New Top Gun in town, *Darana Hybrid*, running an astonishing 242-mile-per-hour pass.

KEY 2025 ANALYTICS:

LAKE OF THE OZARKS SHOOTOUT

Overall Growth

Total followers: 104,361 (up 47,228; growth of 82.7% compared to 2024)
Clear sign of expanding reach and audience

Streaming & Engagement

Watch hours on event day: 160,500 (up 105.13%)
Viewership increased 56.5% year-on-year
Indicates stronger live audience and promotional impact

Participation

Street Party boats: 119 (vs. 115)
Street Party vendors: 16 (vs. 10)
Total event runs: 259 (largest ever)

Volunteers & Community

Unique volunteers: 560
Total volunteer hours logged to-date: 11,957
Reflects solid local support and involvement

Social Media Performance

Facebook: 79,766 followers (+29,500); 21.3M views; 3.9M reach
Instagram: 9,567 followers (+4,300); 1.7M views; 346,100 reach
TikTok: 11,000 followers (+11,000); 2.0M views; top video 421K views
YouTube: 4,000 subscribers (+2,400); 302,300 views; 144,400 watch hours
LinkedIn: 28 followers (+28); 89 impressions

Insights

Strong record-setting growth in streaming and engagement
Social media expansion was impressive across all platforms
Local volunteer involvement remains critical
Potential to grow LinkedIn presence and align content strategies across platforms

During the week of August 19^th through the 25^th, Arrivalist, a company known for gathering media measurements, geolocation data, and travel analytics, recorded 105,377 trips to the Lake area’s tri-county region in Missouri. Compared to August 12^ththrough the 18^th, visitation rose by 20.3% (from 87,586 to 105,377), suggesting an increase of 17,791 visits that may be attributable to the Shootout.

"suggesting an increase of 17,791 visits that may be attributable to the Shootout." Wink, Wink..Nudge Nudge

As was to be expected, introducing a new course and relocating our host venue have brought with them a host of challenges, unforeseen hiccups, sharp learning curves, and a mad dash to marshal volunteers, resources, and shared optimism for continued success. In the Shootout’s 37-year legacy, there’s an implicit understanding that we’ll always find ways to grow and refine, and this year has certainly tested that spirit of adaptation.

Even while we’re still in the process of calculating the total donation amount for 2025 to our 47 Lake area charities and emergency first responder organizations, the momentum for giving back remains unwavering. Our dedication to continuous improvement and deep community support drives us forward, and we’re excited to keep striving for record-breaking years across every front.

**PATRIOTS BANK IS PROUD TO BE A FULL SERVICE COMMUNITY BANK WITH AN EXTENSIVE ARRAY OF PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR PERSONAL AND COMMERCIAL BANKING NEEDS.**

We are already buzzing with excitement for Shootout 38 and everything it promises to bring. Our staff, Board members, volunteers, spectators, sponsors, vendors, and countless supporters make this event what it is, each playing a vital role in its heartbeat. Their passion, energy, and commitment inspire us every day, and we can’t wait to see what collective creativity and devotion will deliver next.

As we look ahead toward 2026, the anticipation builds. New ideas, new challenges, and new possibilities lie before us, and we are poised to meet them head on. With the continued strength of our community and the dedication of everyone involved, we believe the best is yet to come.

And we cannot wait to see it.

If you’re interested in volunteering at any Lake of the Ozarks Shootout–supported event throughout the year or in exploring sponsorship opportunities, please click here to request more information.