Dylan Anderson has won the 2026 IHRA Formula 1 Powerboat Series championship, taking the title at the season-deciding Alton Powerboat Nationals on Sunday after early leader Spencer Love suffered a mechanical failure while out in front.
Anderson, of Anderson Marine, crossed the line 1.47 seconds ahead of Jared Jensen in the Formula 1 final on the Mississippi River to seal his first series championship. Chris Rinker completed the podium in third.
It ends a run of near misses for the Nashville, Tennessee driver, who had finished second in the championship on multiple previous occasions before this year.
I met Anderson and his team over a meal in Bradenton back in February, at the opening round of the season. Even then, it was clear how badly this group wanted the title this year.
Love’s Race Slips Away
Love started the final from pole and led early, with the top four in the championship all within 38 points of each other heading into the race. Anderson moved into second and kept the pressure on the leader before Love’s boat suddenly lost power in the closing stages, ending his title challenge on the spot.
Anderson inherited the lead and held off a determined Jensen to the flag, with the gap between them never stretching much beyond two seconds in the closing laps.
Grant Schubert had set the pace in Sunday morning’s qualifying heat three, ahead of Jensen, Love, Anderson and Rinker, before the top four picked up the fight in the final itself.
Three More Champions Crowned
Alton also decided the other three IHRA Formula One Powerboat Series championships on the same afternoon.
Jake McKee took the Formula Lights title, his first series championship, finishing fourth in a final won by Jared Wallach ahead of Jose Mendana Jr. McKee had carried a lead of just over 100 points into the race and started fifth on the grid.
Cole Wehring secured the Tri-Hull championship with a third-place finish in a final won by Neal Marsh. Wehring had led the points standings coming into the weekend and did enough to hold on despite a difficult qualifying day on Saturday.
In the series’ first season for its Talent Cup class, Luke Brown won the winner-take-all final to be crowned inaugural champion, overhauling Addy Love, who had held a narrow points advantage going into the race.
Dylan Anderson, 2026 IHRA Formula 1 Powerboat Series champion:
I’ve had second in the championship, I don’t even know how many times, three or four. So to win a championship, finish it off on a win here too, and really happy to be able to get it done with my friends and family and all the sponsors who help us.
Season Decided at the Sole Remaining Round
Alton carried extra weight this year after IHRA cut its remaining 2026 schedule back to a single event each in Formula 1, Offshore and Outlaw Drag Boat Racing, following budget issues the organisation confirmed earlier in the season. What had been planned as an eight-round Formula 1 calendar finished as a five-round series, with the Alton Powerboat Nationals standing as both round five and the championship decider.
Full official points and final standings across all four classes will be confirmed and added to Powerboat News’ 2026 IHRA standings page once released.
More IHRA F1 Coverage
Follow the build-up, qualifying and full results from every round of the 2026 IHRA Formula 1 Powerboat Series.
Alton Powerboat Nationals Preview
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
