City of Eustis Spring Showdown Drag Boat races are April 27-28
Published on April 19, 2024
Drag boats will be racing at speeds up to 120 miles per hour on Lake Eustis at the 2024 Spring Showdown, set for Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28.
The event is part of the Southern Outlaw Drag Boat Association’s (SODA) annual race series in Florida. Organizer Jason Beecher with SODA estimates that 50 to 70 racers from throughout the Southeast, including from Lake County, will compete in Eustis, vying for part of the $12,500 purse.
City of Eustis Events and Tourism Manager Miranda Muir said, “We are very excited - this is the City’s second year hosting the event, and we expect a large number of spectators to watch the races from Ferran Park. There will be food, shopping and live entertainment too, so bring the whole family out Saturday and Sunday.”
According to Beecher, there are nine different classes of boats, including Bass and Ski “geared towards more recreational high- performance boaters, and Pro-Mod, which consists of ‘race only’ hulls.”
The 800 foot long drag racing strip will see boaters compete two at a time, with those in the fastest class capable of going 120 mph or more. The prize money will be disbursed by the number of boats in each class.
The event, sponsored by Duke Energy, will be Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 28 from noon until 4 p.m. The City of Eustis Boat Ramps on Lakeshore Drive will be closed Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28 due to the races.
During the two-day event, the City of Eustis will also be doing a “Get Ready for Summer – Giveaway!,” with participants eligible to win the chance to visit Universal Studios, Legoland, the Central Florida Zoo and more. Those who wish to participate can earn up to 10 entries by completing various community-oriented tasks. Find the complete list along with official rules at www.eustis.org/Residents/Lake-Eustis-Spring-Showdown.
