The IHRA Offshore Powerboat Series is the premier offshore powerboat racing championship in the United States, sanctioned by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA). Racing takes place on open coastal water and protected bays, with multiple classes competing across an eight-event national calendar that culminates in the IHRA World Powerboat Grand Prix in Miami. Boats reach speeds well in excess of 100mph; the top Pro Class 1 machinery runs twin supercharged engines producing well over 2,000 combined horsepower.
2026 is the inaugural season of the IHRA Offshore National Championship under IHRA governance, and the series is offering a record $2 million total prize purse plus tow money and racer support — one of the largest in domestic offshore racing history. $1.5 million is distributed across the seven national events, with $500,000 reserved for the World Championship finale in Miami.
Eleven classes compete, from the unlimited Pro Class 1 and factory-built Factory Stock through Super Stock, Super Cat, Modified Vee, Super Vee, Extreme, and several bracket categories. Each class has its own championship, decided on points accumulated across the season.
How Racing Works
IHRA Offshore events run over a weekend, with racing on both Saturday and Sunday. Points are awarded per day; teams competing on both days score from each run. The championship is decided on cumulative points across all rounds attended.
A full points table and scoring explanation is available on the PBN points scoring systems page.
The Classes
Pro Class 1 is the headline class: twin-engine cats with no meaningful restriction on power output, capable of sustained speeds above 150mph in calm conditions. Eight teams are active in 2026, led by Monster Energy / M CON and Outta Pocket Racing.
Super Stock is the largest class by entry, with 18 teams in 2026. Factory-built hulls run controlled engine specifications, making it the most accessible route into competitive national-level offshore racing. Team Bermuda leads after three rounds.
Super Cat runs catamaran hulls below Pro Class 1 level. Six teams are active; Dirty Money Racing leads the championship.
Factory Stock uses production-derived hulls and engines with cost-control restrictions. Jackhammer Offshore Racing leads after Round 3.
Modified Vee runs deep-V monohull boats with modified engines. Clouatre Cartel Offshore Racing leads the 2026 standings.
Super Vee entered championship scoring at Round 3 in Cocoa Beach, with Wazzup Racing the first points leader.
Additional classes — Extreme and Bracket 200 through 700 — complete the 11-class field.
The 2026 Season
Three rounds are complete: St. Petersburg in March, New Orleans in April, and Thunder on Cocoa Beach in May. Five rounds remain, finishing with the IHRA World Powerboat Grand Prix in Miami in October. Current standings:
2026 Calendar
Follow the 2026 IHRA Offshore Season
All IHRA Offshore Coverage
Race reports, results, and championship analysis throughout 2026.
IHRA Offshore on Powerboat NewsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the IHRA Offshore Powerboat Series?
The IHRA Offshore Powerboat Series is the premier offshore powerboat racing championship in the United States, sanctioned by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA). It runs 11 classes across eight events on coastal and bay courses, culminating in the World Championship in Miami.
How fast do IHRA Offshore boats go?
Pro Class 1 cats, the fastest class, are capable of sustained speeds above 150mph in favourable conditions. Super Stock and the vee-hull classes run at lower but still highly competitive speeds.
How many classes compete in IHRA Offshore?
Eleven classes compete in 2026, including Pro Class 1, Super Stock, Super Cat, Factory Stock, Modified Vee, Super Vee, Extreme, and several bracket categories.
Where are IHRA Offshore races held?
The 2026 season visits Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Alabama, with the World Championship finale in Miami in October.
How are IHRA Offshore points scored?
Points are awarded per day of racing at each round. Teams competing on both days of a weekend event score from each run. The team with the most accumulated points at the season’s end wins their class championship.
What prize money is on offer?
The 2026 series offers a $2 million total prize purse plus tow money and racer support. $1.5 million is distributed across the seven national events, with $500,000 reserved for the World Championship finale in Miami.
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.
