Though the Extreme-class American Custom Marine team has not finalized its 2026 offshore racing plans, team owner/throttleman Michael Knoblock has a solid commitment to at least one speed-on-the-water focused event. Knoblock will run his canopied 42-foot Fountain V-bottom for the first-time at the 38th annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, which is set for August 29-30 on the Central Missouri waterway.
Powered by Mercury Racing 1550/1350 engines, the 42-footer is more than a wild raceboat. It is marketing vehicle for the full-service, Kimball, Mich.-based Nor-Tech dealer. And Knoblock and company know the value of the venerable top-speed event as a marketing stage.
“Entering the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout for the first time is a major milestone for our team, and we’re approaching it with a lot of respect for both the event and the competition,” he explained. “The Shootout is unique because it rewards acceleration and setup just as much as outright top speed. A boat that can run 200 mph in a long stretch might only run 150 mph here depending on the setup.
“So our focus this year is on putting together a smart, realistic program and learning as much as we can in our first appearance,” he continued. “As of now we’ll be running full factory Mercury Racing power—the same package customers can purchase directly with a warranty—and our goal is to showcase what an offshore V-bottom can accomplish in this format.”
As of now, Knoblock has not settled on a cockpit-mate. But he is laser-focused on his objectives for the event.
“We understand many boats at the Shootout are purpose-built specifically for this style of run, but our objective is to measure ourselves against the best performances ever achieved by stock-powered V-bottoms,” he explained. “Racers like Ben Robertson have set an incredible benchmark over the years, and having his encouragement heading into this event means a great deal to our entire team. If we can run competitively within that category and represent our sponsors, crew and supporters well, we’ll consider that a success.
“Above everything, our priority is to run strong while keeping safety at the forefront and bringing the boat home in one piece,” he added. “We’ll be right in the middle of our offshore racing season, so executing a clean, controlled run while showing what a factory-powered program is capable of would be a huge accomplishment for us in our first year at the Shootout.”