IHRA Publishes 2026 Offshore Rulebook

The International Hot Rod Association has published its 2026 General Rules for Offshore Racing, a 62-page document dated today that establishes the regulatory framework for its seven-round National Championship season beginning March 27 in St Petersburg, Florida.

The rulebook covers everything from class definitions and points systems to safety staffing, protest procedures and member conduct. It is the first complete offshore racing rulebook published under IHRA’s governance following the organisation’s acquisitions of Powerboat P1 USA/P1 Offshore and expansion into American offshore racing.

14 Classes Across Two Tiers

IHRA Offshore operates two tiers of competition. Seven National classes carry unlimited speed designations, whilst seven Bracketed classes are speed-capped from 60 mph to 115 mph.

Any class that fails to field three entries for three races in a season can be removed from the rulebook by a simple majority of the IHRA board without prior notice. New classes require a petition demonstrating a minimum of three competing or under-construction hulls.

Points and Championship Format

National Championship races award 100 points for a win, scaling down to 20 for 18th place. Bonus points are awarded at one point per competitor defeated, with multipliers assigned by race. Each boat’s lowest score from the series is dropped from the final tally.

To qualify for the IHRA World Championship, boats must compete in four of the seven National Championship rounds. The World Championship itself is a three-race event with an escalating points structure.

Races 1 and 2 of the World Championship carry half the base points of the final race (50 for a win versus 100). Bonus multipliers escalate across the three races: 1x for Race 1, 2x for Race 2, and 3x for the final. Teams also carry 25 points per National race attended and 10 per regional race into the World Championship, rewarding consistent participation throughout the season.

Tiebreakers for National classes are resolved first by penalty infractions, then laps completed, then combined race time. National Championship participants at World Championship events do not earn National Championship points for that event, keeping the two titles distinct.

Safety Requirements

The safety section carries weight given IHRA’s recent search for rescue divers ahead of the season opener. The rulebook mandates a minimum of 15 rescue divers at every event, all requiring Public Safety Diver certification, SFI Rescue Diver training, and active EMT certification.

A formalised Lead Diver role carries authority to take immediate life-saving action without prior approval during emergencies involving submerged or capsized race boats. The position requires appointment by the Safety Director and approval by the Chief Referee.

Mandatory Self-Extrication Training (SET), commonly known as dunker certification, is required annually for all riding crew members of enclosed cockpit vessels. All riding crew must hold a current FAA Physical or CDL, submit to breathalyser testing on race days, and pass pre-race physical examinations including blood pressure and coordination assessments.

The rulebook specifies a minimum of six medical/rescue boats on the racecourse at all times, ten patrol boats, two tow boats, and at least one ALS-equipped and staffed ambulance. Helicopter diver deployment receives detailed treatment, requiring turbine-engine aircraft flown by commercially rated pilots with current medical certificates.

Youth Pathway

Class 700, the slowest bracket class at 60 mph, allows competitors from age 14 under strict conditions. The minor must be accompanied by an adult over 21 with at least five prior offshore race starts. At their first event, the boat must start 150 feet behind the field in the outside lane. The minor must complete a Coast Guard-approved boating safety course and pass an interview with the Chief Referee before their first race.

For all other classes, the minimum age is 18, or 16 when accompanied by an experienced crew member who has entered and completed three offshore races.

Membership and Conduct

Racing membership costs $250 per person. Non-riding crew membership is $100. All riding crew, plus boat owners, must be IHRA members in good standing. Foreign competitors must hold membership in their nationally recognised organisation and join IHRA prior to participation.

A minimum of two and a maximum of three IHRA racing members must be on the race boat during competition. Each boat requires a driver (steering) and throttleman (engine controls) at minimum.

Speech and Conduct Provisions

The rulebook’s unsportsmanlike conduct section extends beyond the racecourse. Section 9.5.3.4 defines unsportsmanlike conduct to include “public intoxication, fighting, intentional aggressive or reckless driving, verbal abuse, public criticism, INTERNET CRITICISM, malicious or false accusations or improper conduct toward any IHRA member or official and/or public criticism of IHRA.”

Section 9.5.3.5 states that negative comments, criticism, or threats directed towards IHRA or its employees, officials, or members “on any public forum” will result in “immediate suspension for each offense.” The definition of public forums explicitly includes newspapers, radio, television, websites, forums, and chat rooms.

Section 9.5.3.6 extends this to all digital communication formats including social media platforms, images, videos, audio files, podcasts, emails, text messages, messaging apps, collaboration tools, blogs, and marketing materials.

These provisions sit alongside Section 4.1.8, which states that threats of legal action against IHRA cause “immediate suspension of the threatening member as well as the members of the race team affiliated with the threatened action.” Section 4.1.9 goes further: actual legal action results in membership termination and vacation of all awards, points, and championships, with those accolades redistributed to remaining eligible competitors.

Exclusivity Requirements

Boats are not permitted to display logos of other sanctioning race bodies during race events. The only sanctioned logo permitted on race boats, in pit stalls, and on banners is IHRA’s. Other sanctioning logos must be covered. Violations carry penalties of up to 10 points, relevant in a system where a race win is worth 100.

Racing suits must bear the IHRA logo on the chest and one sleeve, with conforming suits mandatory from July 1, 2026. Team uniforms must include the IHRA logo at all official functions. Attendance at awards ceremonies is mandatory for all drivers and throttlemen.

Protests and Penalties

The protest system is tightly controlled. Racers cannot protest any issue not explicitly allowed under the rules, cannot instigate penalties by the Chief Referee, and cannot protest penalties levied against them. Once the Chief Referee makes a decision, there is no appeal except where suspension is involved.

Technical protests cost $500 to file, with teardown costs ranging from $1,000 (Stage I intake/exhaust inspection) to $5,000 (Stage III full engine removal and disassembly), all paid by the losing party. Protests must be filed between the completion of pre-race inspection and one hour after unofficial results are posted.

Start violations carry penalties from one to two minutes. Jumping the start or slingshotting can result in disqualification at the Chief Referee’s discretion. A boat causing a restart receives a two-minute penalty, starts on the outside, and starts 150 feet behind the field. Hitting and dislodging a turn buoy carries a one-lap penalty and a fine of up to $3,000.

What the Rulebook Does Not Cover

Prize money amounts are not specified. The rulebook states only that prize money is “optional at the discretion of IHRA” and is IHRA’s sole responsibility. The $2 million purse commitment announced for the 2026 season sits outside this document.

The rulebook also does not address UIM recognition, international sanctioning arrangements, or the competing structure with APBA. Technical specifications for individual classes are contained in a separate IHRA Offshore Technical Rulebook not yet published.

The full rulebook is available to IHRA members.

The 2026 IHRA Offshore season opens March 27 in St Petersburg, Florida.