The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Board of Directors has unanimously voted to relocate its points-based, APBA-sanctioned race (formerly known as Lake Race) to the iconic Bagnell Dam. The races are scheduled to occur at the 1-mile mark of the Main Channel on Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22, 2025. It has also named its 2025 title sponsor of XINSURANCE.

“As the event’s title sponsor, we are thrilled to be recognized in the name change to XINSURANCE Offshore,” said XINSURANCE Chief Executive Officer Rick J. Lindsey. “We are looking forward to a great season of competition and excitement for racing teams, spectators, and all boating enthusiasts.”

Separately from the 2nd Annual XINSURANCE Offshore, the 37th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout will still boast the world’s largest unsanctioned boat race during the third week of August. (Both events raise funds for the same charitable recipients annually, but they are two entirely different races).

The timeline of events preceding the 2nd Annual XINSURANCE Offshore’s sanctioned races are as follows:

Thursday, June 19th, 2025: Pre-party at Lazy Gators, fueled by Horsepower Hottie and Bikini Lives Matter.

Friday, June 20th, 2025: Racer testing along the racecourse in the morning, in addition to a fun run ending at Lazy Gators (registration, stops, and starting point to be announced). A racer party and concert will follow the fun run (artist and times to also be announced).

Saturday, June 21st, 2025: Day one of two consecutive race days produced by APBA-sanctioned Professional Racing Offshore (PRO), a newly established Lake of the Ozarks-based promoter. XINSURANCE Offshore’s races will be the second race occurring on the National Race Schedule, including time trials for qualifying. Following the races, a street party will be hosted along the Bagnell Dam Strip, along with a live concert (artist and time to be announced).

Sunday, June 22nd, 2025: Final race day with an awards ceremony to follow.

“We are excited to continue to be a part of XINSURANCE Offshore in 2025,” said JG Gorham, co-owner of both Shady and Lazy Gators. “While we loved having the races right outside of our front door in 2024, we cannot wait to play host to the many boaters and racer parties at Shady and Lazy Gators this June.”

XINSURANCE Offshore and Shootout Executive Director Leah Martin is equally as excited to work alongside Gorham again, and to establish an even stronger working relationship with George Tucker as the races themselves move downstream.

“We are really looking forward to this race, and I have worked closely with the class representatives and teams to ensure that it is an optimal experience for both racers and spectators alike,” explained Martin. “There are a lot of changes that are being made to this year’s event schedule—even as compared to when it was previously hosted at the Bagnell Dam many years ago—and there will be additional viewing areas in conjunction with the Dam and Strip. We look forward to bringing the event back to the Strip for all those enjoying the races and the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks, and being able to work with business owners such as JG and George adds to the fun.”

As for big waves, Tucker, owner of five Lake area restaurants and an entrepreneur at heart, has made local news himself with his soon-to-be 50,000-square-foot complex. Located beside Neon Taco at the 0-mile mark of the Main Channel, this building will boast five levels filled with various high-end, custom-crafted Mediterranean and Bohemian-inspired restaurants, along with gaming areas which include family-friendly activities like duckpin bowling, pinball machines, pool tables, televisions, shuffleboards, and Tulum, Mexico-style pool areas, just to name a few. Although the tentative completion date for this complex is not until May of 2026, there will be a new dock area installed ahead of XINSURANCE Offshore, including a boardwalk which will connect to Neon Taco for ease of access on and off water.

“We are so happy to have this race back at the Dam and to be a part of it once again,” exclaimed Tucker. “I am excited for this year, but also for next year when we have the venue open. The new complex (the name is still being determined) will open up space for so many more people to not only view the races, but to enjoy the Lake of the Ozarks.”

Though XINSURANCE Offshore has seen many iterations and gone through various evolutions over the years, this 32-year-strong globally attended event has donned the hats of many local venues since its original debut in 1993. At that time, the races occurred near the Lodge of the Four Seasons at the 13-mile mark of the Main Channel, traveling upstream and operating under the name of Superboat ’93. Since that year, it has taken place at the Bagnell Dam several times, and its return to the origination of the Lake of the Ozarks is a sweet nostalgia to many.

"The only constant is change,” said XINSURANCE Offshore Committee Chairman Tom Abbett of ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus. "I've been involved with some iteration of offshore racing at the Lake of the Ozarks since 1995 (U.S. Offshore Festival of Speed) and that quote holds true today. Having been actively involved in the most recent offshore race offerings here since 2016 and seeing the exponential growth of the event, along with the combined ability to better support the racecourse itself at the Bagnell Dam while hosting two full days of racing and testing, makes this move not only necessary, but essential to its continued growth. George Tucker's investment in the host viewing capacity, Reese Development, along with the Bagnell Dam Strip Association and City of Lake Ozark's continuous support of such a large-scale event, are all essential in bringing two-day racing back to the historic Bagnell Dam Strip. We are up to the challenge of not only assimilating race teams from across the country and world, but we will also ensure that two cranes, ample support personnel, helicopters, emergency medical services, safety divers, state and local officials, and a compilation of crews—all working amidst a sea of bustling spectators—are present and at the ready for this three-day spectacle of speed.”

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