Sprint boats return for two days this weekend

By Pierre LaBossiere • July 26, 2024 1:30 pm
Photo by Jeff Halstead / The Full Tilt 03B boat out of Snohomish, driven by Scarlett Taylor and navigated by her daughter Sophia Taylor, takes on the course at the Extreme Sports Park in the modified qualifying rounds in September 2023.
Photo by Jeff Halstead / The Full Tilt 03B boat out of Snohomish, driven by Scarlett Taylor and navigated by her daughter Sophia Taylor, takes on the course at the Extreme Sports Park in the modified qualifying rounds in September 2023.

The American Sprint Boat Pro Racing Series returns to Extreme Sports Park this weekend with as many as 40 boats from across the Pacific Northwest competing over two days, July 27-28.

The races were expanded from one day to two because of the growth in number of teams. Extreme Sports Park is located a few miles west of Port Angeles. Racers from all over Washington, Idaho, Oregon and British Columbia with some of the teams based in faraway New Zealand. The races are sponsored by ASBR and STIHL.

Races begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with gates opening at each day at 8:30 a.m.

Sprint boat racing has four classes of boats that have to negotiate a course with 13 turns and six islands. The course changes with each race and must be quickly memorized by both the drive and a navigator in the boat.

There is a new LS Chevy Class this year, joining the modified, 400 and unlimited classes.

Preliminary racing heats will be held all day Saturday with the finals taking place beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday at ESP.

There will be a beer garden and camping opened Thursday afternoon. Children age 5 and younger get in free. Kids’ 6-17 cost $20 for one day and $30 for both days. Adults tickets are $40 for one day and $60 for both days. There are discounts for military personnel and seniors older than 65.

The weekend’s events begin with a “Show and Shine” at nearby Lower Elwha Food & Fuel on U.S. Highway 101 and South Dry Creek Road from 4-6:30 p.m. today. Many of the racers and their boats will be at the site showing off their high-powered machines. Entry is fee and there will be a food trailer available.

To kick off the show during the weekend, there will be a group of skydivers landing on the islands in the middle of the racing waterways. There will be a lunch break at halftime with West Coast surf riders and Pacific Northwest Water X jet skiers performing and doing stunts.