LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — For the second year in a row, Don Onken's American Ethanol is the Top Gun at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout.
It was an uncertain route to victory, when American Ethanol's Saturday, Aug. 27 run was initially disqualified. An issue at the starting line resulted in the boat being cleared for a run but then receiving a "black flag" designation, disqualifying that run. Slug Hefner was at the wheel, with John Cosker at the throttles, and the boat hit 217 mph. American Ethanol did not run again on Saturday.
Onken protested the disqualification, and later on Saturday, the Shootout committee voted to overturn the ruling. No other boat topped that 217 mph run.
In 2015, American Ethanol, powered by four motors pushing more than 7,000 horsepower, hit 208 mph.
John Cosker, throttleman for American Ethanol at the 2016 Shootout, looks across the beach at Captain Ron's Bar & Grill on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016.
photo by Al Griffin Photography
