New Shores, New Records: Inside the 2025 Shootout Evolution

Lake of the Ozarks Shootout
Sep 19
8 min read

September 2025 Shootout E-Newsletter, by Christy Wagner, Editor

There are rare moments in history in which you find yourself alive and fully present in the moment, regardless of whether you wanted to be in the thick of it or not. Sometimes, the roar of the crowd is a distraction, and other times, that very roar is the only cue you need to deliver an unforgettable performance and give the people exactly what they came to see. This, ladies and gentlemen, was the 37th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout.

With viewership and attendance from six continents and all fifty states for the second year in a row, we hope you heard just how loud we can roar.

*The iconic "Floatilla" tie-up during the 2025 Lake of the Ozarks Shootout*

2025 Top Guns: Clinched on the ¾-Mile Shootout Course at the 2-Mile Mark of the Grand Glaize Arm (many of which are the fastest ¾-mile course speeds ever recorded)

Shootout Top Gun—Driver Darryl Cuttell & Throttleman Steve Curtis "Darana Hybrid” at 242 miles per hour
Fastest Single-Engine Cat—David Hull “DCB” at 145 miles per hour
Top Outboard Cat—Driver Warren Duke & Throttleman Evan Signor at 151 miles per hour
Top Center Console—Driver Tiffany Ison & Throttleman Paul Ison “For Sale” at 97 miles per hour
Top ‘Toon—Brad Rowland “Tooned In” at 117 miles per hour
Top Single-Engine V-Hull—Thomas Weigl “Tuff Marine” at 120 miles per hour
Top V-Hull—Driver Gary Shoepke & Throttleman CJ Jones “Bankruptme” at 130 miles per hour
Top Outboard V-Hull—Will Smith “Phantom Speedster” at 128 miles per hour
Top Piston-Powered Cat—Driver Adam Seraphine and Throttleman Rusty Williams “Dirty Duck” at 215 miles per hour
Top Female Racer (Overall Speed)—Driver Sabrina Kowalik (Alongside Throttleman Rusty Williams) “Rosenbach Freight” at 165 miles per hour
Top Single/Solo Female—Leanna Shadlow “Demon Bikini” at 121 miles per hour
Top PWC—Joe Cardella at 121 miles per hour

No single person owns or defines the Shootout but rather, it stands as a living testament to the collective spirit and continuous evolution of its volunteers, board, staff, spectators, sponsors, racers, and global viewers. Together, they carry the weight of a relentless legacy on the backs of thousands and in the hearts of millions. This legacy is precious, and it is upheld by many loyal advocates who stand shoulder to shoulder without fear of failure, because at the Shootout, failure has never been, nor will it ever be, an option.

With that in mind, the Shootout is incredibly proud to spotlight a select group of dedicated volunteers and members of staff who not only ensured that this year’s event was safe for everyone involved, but they also gave freely of their time and energy over the course of a full week, helping make it one of the very best years yet (if not the very best of them all) since the Summer of ’89.

Patrol Lead Coordinator Kathy Hofer:

Chosen Charity for Volunteer Hours: Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance (LOWA)

“One thing about the Shootout is the teamwork,” Kathy reflects, acknowledging the effort of the hundreds of volunteers who log thousands of hours across parking, merchandise, broadcasting, safety, and on-water support. As a patrol boat lead, she orchestrates coordination between patrol boats, anchor management, and the race course; especially crucial this year at the new location, where a closed State Park enabled a safer and well-received safety zone adjustment. She delights in interacting with both longtime and first-time boaters, ensuring everyone enjoys a safe experience, and takes pride in the camaraderie among volunteers, especially when facing high-wind challenges together.“Being a part of this amazing group is an honor that is not taken lightly,” she added, recognizing that the Shootout supports many local charities, some relying heavily on its fundraising each year.

Traffic Control Coordinator Tony Ewen:

Chosen Charity for Volunteer Hours: Greenview Elks Lodge

“I have to say, the Street Party was absolutely amazing and a tremendous success. We parked around 500 cars down by the Dam, and the shuttling system worked like a charm: attendees walked up to browse the boat displays, others rode buses to Dog Days, and we even used golf carts to guide people back to their vehicles. Coordination of parking and crowd control went off without a hitch. The buses arrived quickly, with almost no wait, and everything flowed smoothly. After fifteen years of past growing pains, it was truly rewarding to see everything run so effortlessly this time.”

Merchandise Coordinator Nancy Colley:

Chosen Charity for Volunteer Hours: Coffman Bend Fire Protection District

“I’ve been involved for only a few years, focusing on the organizational side, including but not limited to tracking volunteers and managing inventory and logistics. Along with my small inner circle, our “Team Margie,” which was inspired by the late Margie Frazier who is now watching over us, we tackled a new venue this year with a mixture of anticipation and nervous excitement and ultimately agreed it would be a positive move. Despite a smaller merchandise tent, we adapted quickly, running multiple registers and coordinating well between the U-Haul truck and the sales tables. It was chaotic at times, especially staying busy from the Strip Party onward, but everything ran smoothly with no major issues. Overall, I was very pleased with the turnout, the operations, and how well we handled it all.”

Anchor Management Lead Dustin Kirgan:

Chosen Charity for Volunteer Hours: Make-A-Wish Foundation

“This is my second consecutive year volunteering and my first year doing anchor management/patrol,” said Dustin, noting that his lifelong passion and boating experience helped him excel in guiding spectators safely; especially when wind caused rope failures and drifting during Sunday’s event. He calls it “an awesome experience,” encourages others to volunteer, and shares personal motivations while supporting Make-a-Wish and helping people with special needs, inspired by his family’s experiences.

Registration Coordinator Diana Dorhauer:

Chosen Charity for Volunteer Hours: Kids’ Harbor

“Our registration team was pumped and ready for our new location this year,” Diana said, celebrating a leap in online sign-ups: from about 35 last year to approximately 75 this year (representing over 75% of total registrations). In total, the event drew 108 registrations this year, a clear sign of growing engagement, with a total of 265 runs across both days (racers oftentimes run multiple times throughout the weekend).

Shuttle Boat Lead Donna Swall:

Donna Swall and Darana Hybrid Owner-Driver Darryl Cuttell

Chosen Charity for Volunteer Hours: Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance (LOWA)

Donna shares her longstanding commitment: as the 2006 co-founder and current executive director of LOWA, she has facilitated patrol boats since 2008, including during COVID. She emphasizes LOWA’s mission: “To keep our healthy lake healthy,” and highlights the honor of bridging science and business through providing patrol boats. Among her memorable moments this year: hosting Brian, the airshow pilot, and meeting the vessel operator of 2025’s Top Gun Darana Hybrid during her shuttling duties. She also praises Kathy Hofer’s contributions: “Kathy Hofer… she has been a true asset.”

Dock Operations Support Larry & Sandy Triplett:

Chosen Charity for Volunteer Hours: Coffman Bend Fire Protection District

Larry and Sandy were pivotal in ensuring dock operations ran smoothly, overseeing logistics, from radios and flags to buckets and t-shirts, and serving as critical land-support when extra equipment was needed for the patrol boats.

Course Captain Justin Martin:

Chosen Charity for Volunteer Hours: Fellowship of Christian Athletes

In his 24th year involved with the Shootout, Justin declares this year had the “best water I’ve seen for the racers,” describing a calm, protected course with ample space for safety zones and spectators, all of which were further enhanced by great aerial views and drone footage. He notes early-day challenges like establishing the green anchoring line, but he praises the setup for safety and staging. Looking ahead, he’s optimistic about the infrastructure underway, including plans for parking garages, dock slips, and rooftop viewing areas with new hotel developments that will further elevate the event.

Shootout Marketing & Branding Director Destiny Jones:

I transitioned into my full-time Marketing & Branding Director role in April, while still managing sponsor relations, designing/selling the Race Guide, and anything else needed on our small, all-hands team. This year has brought massive change: a new racecourse, headquarters, logistics, systems, website, and processes. But our volunteers rose to the occasion beautifully. Despite the upheaval, every event broke records, the race was safe, and we delivered millions in support while giving back hundreds of thousands locally. I couldn’t be prouder of our small but mighty team, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for the Shootout and our impact.

Shootout Operations & Engagement Coordinator Sarah Moody:

“It was a great year! We had over 500 volunteers registered with 400+ of those volunteers active during the Shootout weekend, and their dedication was nothing short of extraordinary even in long, hot shifts. Thanks to a new volunteer management database and app, we improved our ability to collect emergency contacts, assign shifts, and communicate in real time, which is something we’d never done before. Volunteers embraced the new technology seamlessly and helped ensure that every role ran smoothly, from merchandise and traffic control to groundskeeping and gate operations. Without them, the Shootout simply wouldn’t have been possible.”

Shootout Production Coordinator Rickie Smith:

Rickie confirms that viewership rose dramatically from the previous year, reporting more than 2.9 million views across all Shootout social-media and viewing platforms combined for Saturday and Sunday. He underscores that the production was top-notch, dubbing it, “the best quality we’ve ever had” with flawless execution, cameras scattered across the course, and even successful use of FPV drones (even losing one in the water, yet still delivering stellar coverage).

Shootout Executive Director Leah Martin:

Leah reflects that 2025 was a true success: a historic location move, safe course, record-breaking competition (including PWC, tri-hull, and catamaran records), strong spectator interaction, and no-wake improvements, all of which resulted in doubled viewership. She’s enthusiastic for 2026, anticipating completion of infrastructure like the parking garage and Oasis project as a whole, which will support more spectators, boats, docks, and viewing options in future years. She shares impressive media metrics: over 147,000 YouTube watch hours across the globe; massive spikes in Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, website sessions, and social media growth, all of which signify extraordinary engagement and overall reach.

Shootout Board President Mark Maasen:

With infectious enthusiasm, Mark simply exclaims: “How about ‘WOW!’ What an amazing event!!” He’s thrilled by the opportunities for growth, declaring the Shootout to be at the forefront of something “absolutely fantastic” with limitless community benefits.

From the Office of Missouri Lt. Governor David Wasinger: “The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout is more than a race — it’s one of Missouri’s most thrilling traditions. This year, we didn’t just count the states represented — we counted the countries — and it was incredible to see fans and racers travel from across the globe to be part of it. From the roar of the engines to the record-breaking runs, the Shootout is pure adrenaline, and a true showcase of why the Lake is such a special place. I was honored to present the Lieutenant Governor’s Cup to this year’s Top Gun and to cheer alongside thousands of passionate fans. My sincere thanks to the organizers, racers, and volunteers who make this event bigger and better every single year!”