The blasters have extendible barrels for improved accuracy when shooting at long range.

Hey, would we make this stuff up?

Transcript

GM: Make an immediate action Mechanic roll.
Anakin: 14.
[SFX]: Clik!
GM: You start the engines and take off after the other racers.
[SFX]: Vrahooomm!!!
[SFX]: Vreeeeooooooowwww!!!
Shmi: {in the spectator tower} Who did you sell your blasters to?
Qui-Gon: I dunno. Some sort of... sand... people.
Jar Jar: And howsa they knowin' who to shoot at?
Qui-Gon: I gave them a picture of Watto and told them to shoot at everyone else.
{Sand People sitting on a race corner; they shoot at Anakin's pod}
[SFX]: Pow! Pow!
[SFX]: {a shot bounces off Anakin's pod} Ktchang!
[SFX]: {Sand People shouting} Urrr... Hurr-Hurr-Hurr!!!
R2-D2: Remind me never to play poker with the GM.
Qui-Gon: Why?
R2-D2: There wasn't even a hint of a smile when you handed him those notes.