With over 100 years of racing history, it makes perfect sense that another high impact racing event would be held in the state of Indiana. From the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” Indy 500, the Brickyard 400, Madison H-1 Unlimited Governor’s Cup and Michigan City Great Lake Grand Prix to hundreds of smaller events; Indiana truly is a Mecca of Motorsports. So, what’s new? The Wawasee Shootout coming June 4th and 5th of 2027 is new.

Shootouts are gaining in popularity. I like to think of these races as the Pro-Am of powerboat racing. If you aren’t familiar, a Shootout is a type of race like a drag race. Boats race in a straight line competing for the top speed in their class. However, they race against the clock, one boat at a time, instead of racing in pairs or groups. Boats enter the course at 40 MPH and have three-fourths of a mile to hit their top speed. Once the 3/4-mile mark is reached, boats must immediately slow down to 40 MPH or below. This type of event attracts local “Go Fast” boaters and professional racers alike. There are street parties, parades, and other festivities that draw the whole community together. Boaters and race teams often travel over 1,000 miles to participate and help boost the local economy. Usually, local charities share the benefits too.

Lake Wawasee is not the largest Lake in Indiana, but it is the largest natural lake at over 3,000 acres. Located adjacent to the town of Syracuse in north central Indiana, it’s about halfway between Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. Cottage owners come from Chicago, Toledo, South Bend, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis to enjoy its pristine water and “All Sports” access. It was rumored that Col. Eli Lilly, himself, had the railroad routed past his compound on the north shore so he and his guests could make the trip from Indianapolis by private car. While not completely accurate, the Colonel was involved in both the railroad and the enhancement of Lake Wawasee. The railroad and the property remain intact today.

The shootout is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 4-5, 2027. The racecourse hours are 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm local time. The lake features a large sandbar where hundreds of boats can anchor or raft up. The course is a straight line north of the sandbar making it the best vantage point for fans. The course will be clearly marked with buoys and will be patrolled by volunteers and law enforcement to maintain safety. Driver meetings and volunteer meetings will be held early Friday and Saturday. Safety for everyone is the number one priority.

Lake Wawasee can get extremely rough. On a windy day, boat wakes and waves can create a chop that rivals the great lakes. We plan to run the smaller boats on Friday while there is less traffic churning up the water. We will have a crane onsite on both days so we can begin running the big boats. The street party will be that Friday evening. This family-friendly celebration is an opportunity to see the race boats up close. Race teams and sponsors will have displays, and we anticipate food, music and other activities. Boaters can also sign up for the ‘People’s Choice” awards for Best Paint/Graphics, Best Rig (truck and trailer), Best Display and whatever else we think of. There will be a $50 contest entrance fee with all the proceeds going to charity.

On Saturday, the big boats will continue running until our 4:30 pm deadline. Saturday night will top off the event with an awards ceremony and cocktail party.

This is the inaugural year for the Wawasee Shootout. Our hope is that the community and participant demand is such that we can make it an annual event. We have the permits, the sponsors and the infrastructure. We are currently working with the APBA to handle judging and scoring. We have also reached out to professional racers for guidance. At their direction, hiring a professional offshore racing Safety and Rescue team is in the works. This is in addition to local first responders. We are putting together all the ingredients of a first-class powerboat event in anticipation of a huge turnout.

We can always use more sponsors and volunteers to help with race day duties. If interested, contact information is here on the website. The volunteer sign-up and boat registration forms can be downloaded from the website. Travel information can be found at