PORT ANGELES — You don’t have to leave the North Olympic Peninsula to see the Super Bowl of the U.S. Sprint Boat Association this weekend.
The Extreme Sports Park in west Port Angeles will host the association’s National Finals Championship on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
The venue at 2917 W. Edgewood Drive hosted last year’s season finale as well as a sprint boat association series points race Aug. 11.
A crowd of about 8,000 saw the hard-charging, quick-turning boats race against the clock last month.
Based on a “great response since the last race,” Extreme Sports Park co-owner Kelie Morrison anticipates an even larger crowd Saturday.
“I’m expecting between 10,000 and 12,000,” Morrison said.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children between ages 7 and 12, and free for children 6 and younger. The entrance fee includes a pit pass.
Gates will open at 8 a.m.
A post-race party with live music will take place after the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the races. A planned fireworks show was canceled because of a burn ban.
Drivers and their navigators will attempt to make the elimination rounds by posting a fast qualifying time.
The elimination rounds will narrow the field to two, with the fastest boats vying for first and second place.
First look today
Fans can get their first look at the sprint boats today at the Show & Shine Tech Event between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Laurel Street between First and Front streets in downtown Port Angeles.
“People can meet the drivers, look at the boats and get autographs,” Morrison said.
The Show & Shine was moved downtown for the National Finals Championship.
“We were very happy to help sponsor this,” said Port Angeles Downtown Association Executive Director Barb Frederick.
Camping will be available at the sprint boat track for $20. Payment must be made upon arrival.
Due to the popularity of the event, many canopy spots on the hill already have been claimed.
“We’ve got so many people coming in,” Morrison said. “Just come in and try to find a spot.”
Double points race
As a double points race, the National Finals Championship gives drivers and their teams an opportunity to make a late charge at the season points championship.
“It can make or break your position in the points race,” Morrison said. “These people will be racing hard.”
Sprint boat races feature three classifications: Super Boats, Super Modifieds and A-400s. The classifications are based on the size of the engines.
Drivers have a navigator sitting beside them to help negotiate the maze of shallow channels at speeds of nearly 100 mph in some places.
Morrison’s husband, Dan, drives Wicked Racing’s No. 10 Super Boat boat with their daughter, navigator Cara McGuire of Port Angeles.
Kelie Morrison said the two dozen teams from last month’s series points race will be joined by additional boats for the National Finals Championship.
“They’ve been neck and neck all year,” Morrison said of the competition. “This race is going to be the deal breaker. They’ll be racing all-out.”
A Speed TV crew will be on hand to tape the National Finals Championship for a later broadcast. The date of the broadcast has yet to be announced.
Tickets available
Tickets for the National Finals Championship are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com or at the following Port Angeles locations: Sunset Do it Best Hardware, 518 Marine Drive; Round-Up A Latte, 3231 E. U.S. Highway 101; First Street Chiropractic, 1217 E. First St.; PenPrint Inc., 230 E. First St.; and Lincoln Street Shipping Center, 403 S. Lincoln St.
In Sequim, tickets can be purchased at Dog House Powder Coating & Media Blasting, 503 S. Third Ave.
Tickets also can be purchased at the gate with cash or check only.
For more information, phone 360-477-8187 or 360-460-2601.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
