JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
The waters surrounding Marion County Park near Jasper recently roared with adrenaline during this year’s annual Outboard Nationals championship
race, where contestants from all around battled for the first place spot. Hosted by the Greater Jasper Jaycees alongside the Southern Outlaw Drag Boat Association (SODA), this year’s race was bursting with energy from both the racers participating, and from spectators taking in the sights and sounds
of race boats gliding atop the waters of the Tennessee River. Wayne Quarles, Treasurer for the Greater Jasper Jaycees, explained that the race has long
been rooted within the community since 1992. The first race started off with only having 23 contestants. This year’s race had 102 racers from all around the country and beyond—some from as far north as Canada who’ve made their way to the South to participate in the race. “The biggest race that this group ever had was, until they got here two years ago was 57 boats. There was 93, 94, and this is 102 boats. That speaks how much the drag boat racers love coming to Jasper to race,” said Quarles. Two major factors to the area’s draw is its history with drag boat racing, as well as its location within the Southeastern United States. Since it first began in 1992, Marion County Park grew into the go-to destination for different drag boat organizations to host yearly drag boat races. The race serving as a world renowned championship for 25 years. Because of its close proximity to I-24, and the interstate creating a walled barrier from Rankin Cove, the waters surrounding the park serve as a naturally formed stadium for boaters to use.
Wayne explained how all proceeds go towards the community, specifically towards the Marion County Sheriff’s Department’s upcoming Christmas for Kids program this December. He also stated how the race economically benefits both the park and the community as a whole, attracting in new revenue which financially supports the park and the county’s local economy. “There’s a lot of wins, and not just for the Jaycees in doing this but because we want to see what’s good for the community,” said Wayne. This year’s championship had several racers who claimed victory across eight separate classes in drag boats. This year’s event culminated into another major success, and SODA has already scheduled next year’s competition for Oct. 10-11.