Limited to a field of 30 entries this year, the revamped Outlaw Shoot-Out National Championship—the top-speed shootout portion of the ninth annual Texas Outlaw Challenge—is generating plenty of interest from shootout participants and fans alike. Of course it helps that the event has a sizable prize purse of $25,000, which is something unheard of in the powerboat community.

Yes, you read that right—$25,000. According to Paul Robinson, the founder and producer of the Texas Outlaw Challenge, the event organizers decided to put extra emphasis on the top-speed portion of the popular poker run following the February announcement of a $5,000 bounty provided by the Texas Offshore Performance Powerboat Squadron that jumped to $10,000 a week later and has since climbed to $25,000 total.

Vern Gilbert and Gary Smith took home the 2014 Outlaw Shootout title in Gilbert’s Predator Skater. Photo by Jay Nichols/Naples Image

Robinson stressed that pre-registration is required for the Outlaw Shoot-Out National Championship, which is scheduled for Friday morning before the first poker run card stop—the Most Wanted Outlaw pool party that afternoon at Kenny Armstrong’s house. He added that a declaration of the boat’s estimated top speed is required on the participant’s registration request.

Stating that he hopes the “national championship” challenges representatives from other states to prove they’re bigger and faster than some of the Texas-based boats, including Kenny Mungle’s 32-foot Skater Powerboats catamaran Gone Again, Robinson said: “We’ve got $25,000 that says we are.”

To make things more interesting on the one-mile course, which includes a 40-mph restricted entry speed and a one-mile shutdown area after the finish line, the event is being organized into seven classes (see the breakdown below).

Along with a Calcutta auction on Thursday night for the 30 selected entries and all of the bidders, Robinson said that the awards and prizes are going to be presented to the winners at the Outlaw Champions Champagne Brunch on Sunday morning located in the Marine Max showroom.

Here’s a look at the payout breakdown for the seven classes, according to the Texas Outlaw Challenge website.

Outlaw Cat (unlimited piston power, $10,000 total)
1st: $5,000, 2nd: $3,000, 3rd: $2,000

Outlaw Vee (unlimited piston power, $10,000 total)
1st: $5,000, 2nd: $3,000, 3rd: $2,000

Manufacturer Factory Stock Cat ($1,000 total)
1st: $600, 2nd: $400

Manufacturer Factory Stock Vee ($1,000 total)
1st: $600, 2nd: $400

Manufacturer Factory Stock Center Console ($1,000 total)
1st: $600, 2nd: $400

Custom Cat ($1,000 total)
1st: $600, 2nd: $400

Custom Vee ($1,000 total)
1st: $600, 2nd: $400

To enjoy a comprehensive feature on top-speed shootouts, download the latest issue of Speed On The Water digital magazine now at no charge by clicking here.

Related stories
Texas Outlaw Challenge Going with Radar Capture in 2016
Texas Outlaw Challenge Adds $5,000 Bounty for 2016 Shootout
Upping the Bounty: Texas Outlaw Challenge Reward Up to $10,000
Photo Essays: Final Views from the Texas Outlaw Challenge