New Shootout Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced For 2022

The organizing committee of the 34th Annual Shootout has announced 10th Annual Hall of Fame Class of 2022. The committee called this year’s class "the most diverse group, representing individuals and companies from all areas of the event." The group will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on Aug. 23 of this year at the Lighthouse in Sunrise Beach.

To be inducted this year:

• Mark Maasen, owner of Polylift Boat Lifts

• Scott Lyons and Ruben Sifuentes of Central Power and Riggings

• John Teichman, last owner of Shooters 21

• Mike "Gordo" Gordon, legendary Shootout racer

• Missouri Eagle

• Michael Wagner, Toni Wagner and Sandy Laffoon, radar gun operators

What could an owner of a boat lift company, a boat rigging crew, a former night club owner, a retired firefighter, a beer distributor, and a trio of volunteers all have in common? The answer is the Shootout.

Mark Maasen, owner of Polylift Boat Lifts, has been a part of the event since its inception and currently sits on their Board of Directors. Starting as a Patrol Boat driver Mark has been involved in many aspects of the event over the past 33 years.

Scott Lyons and Ruben Sifuentes of Central Power and Riggings also have a storied past with the event. Their work with well known racers such as Slug Heffner, Doc Janssen, and Bob Morgan, just to name a few. While other names may be more well known these two have quietly in the background had a direct effect on the race and the speeds that have produced Top Guns.

John Teichman was the owner of the home of the Shootout in its final years. Shooters 21 is well known as a staple of the event during its infancy and also during its growth. John was influential in bringing on now long-time sponsor Missouri Eagle, a Budweiser Distributor. This sponsorship was key to putting the Shootout on the National Radar. It is rumored that the nightclub remained open its final year simply to allow the Shootout to provide another year of funding for local Fire and Rescue Departments.

Mike Gordon was a firefighter in Kansas when he competed in his first race in 1995. Gordo, as he is known, suffered a massive brain hemorrhage in 2007, forcing a break from racing while he healed. In true firefighter grit Gordo fought back and returned to the event in 2009. The 2008 race featured the chant “Get Well Gordo” as his presence was sorely missed.

Missouri Eagle, one of a very few title sponsors of the event to be placed in the Hall of Fame. It was their sponsorship and commitment to the event in the early years of the race that turned the local event into a national event. The monies donated and support given has attributed to helping many charities over the years.

For many years Michael Wagner, Toni Wagner and Sandy Laffoon have operated the most critical tools at the race, the radar guns. This job requires experience and dedication as every pass needs to be recorded quickly and accurately.

The Shootout organizing committee congratulated the 2022 class of inductees into the Bob Morgan Memorial Shootout Hall of Fame. Learn more at LakeOfTheOzarksShootout.com.