ST. JOHN, Washington (June 19, 2025) — The relative quiet of the Palouse will be shattered Saturday, June 21 when the first of two sprint 2025 boat races take place at Webbs’ Slough.
This is the 34th race at Webb’s Slough which opened in 2007. There is an additional facility in Port Angeles, Wash. on the Olympic Peninsula.
Three classes of boats will compete, including Modifieds, 400’s and Unlimiteds with 30 boats expected.
While the boats all look very similar on the outside, there is a notable difference between the classes according to spokesperson, Casey Willson.
“The biggest difference is how much cubic inch displacement the motor is allowed to have,” Willson wrote in an email.
Modified motors are required to have a maximum cubic inch displacement of 367 while the 400 class motors can have between 368 and 412 CID.
“Unlimited is just as it sounds, they may have as large of a motor as they would like,” Wilson explained. “They have few restrictions and can use any type of fuel including methanol.”
In competition, the teams which include a driver and navigator, drive a specific course that has multiple left and right hand turns. The quickest time over several runs is the winner.
“All of our teams are amazing,” Willson said. “It takes a lot of skill and a need for speed to perform as well as these teams do.”
Teams that include colorful names like Overkill, Jolly Rogers, Poison Ivy, Pure Insanity and Punisher.
“We have racers coming from near and far. Some as close as Spokane, Spangle and Lewiston. While others are coming from New Zealand, Australia and Canada,” Willson said.
Sprint boats also sometimes race on area rivers like the Clearwater near Lewiston, Idaho and Salmon around Riggins.
“Some of these boats run on the rivers but they excel in tight corners and hairpin turns,” Willson said.
Race viewing takes place up close in seating near the track, or from five grass terraces on an adjacent hillside. The facility offers a variety of food vendors as well as two beer gardens.
Gates open at 9 a.m., racing starts at 10. For information or to purchase tickets visit www.WebbsSlough.com.
Fans are invited to meet the teams and see the boats up close at the Show n’ Shine downtown St. John, Friday, June 20 from 4pm - 6:30 p.m.
A second event takes place Aug. 23.