Thunder on Cocoa Beach 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Thunder on Cocoa Beach returns to Cocoa Beach, Florida, on May 15 to 17, 2026, for Round 3 of the IHRA Offshore National Championship. Beachfront viewing is free across the entire length of the spectator strip, with paid VIP options at the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier. The race course runs parallel to the shoreline, so there is no bad angle from the beach.

The 2026 event is supported by Monster Energy and Progressive. The IHRA Offshore season carries a total prize purse of $2 million for powerboat teams, with an additional $650,000 in tow money across the year. Thunder on Cocoa Beach is one of seven rounds on the 2026 national championship calendar.

What You Will See

Offshore powerboat racing is contested in purpose-built V-hull and catamaran powerboats capable of exceeding 100mph in the senior classes. Competitors race in parallel around a marked offshore course, with the fastest Pro Class machinery producing enough noise and spray to make an impression from several hundred metres away. The IHRA fields multiple classes at each event, from entry-level single-engine boats through to twin-supercharged Pro Class 1 competition.

The course runs close to the beach, which means spectators on the shoreline get a proper look at full-speed competition rather than a distant view. The Race Village on Flounder Drive gives access to the dry pit area, where boats and crews are on display between sessions.

Who’s Entered

59 drivers across 13 classes are registered for Thunder on Cocoa Beach. Super Stock carries the largest field with 11 entries. Super Vee and Extreme, absent from the Round 1 opener at St. Petersburg, both return at Cocoa Beach.

Pro Class 1

Super Cat

Super Stock

Factory Stock

Modified Vee

Bracket 400

Bracket 500

Bracket 600

Bracket 700

Super Vee

Bracket 200

Bracket 300

Extreme

Entering Round 3

Monster Energy / M CON (#06) won all four Pro Class 1 races at St. Petersburg and New Orleans, with Tyler Miller at the wheel. Myrick Coil is listed as driver for Round 3. The Pro Class 1 field has reduced to four boats at Cocoa Beach – WHM Motorsports and MTI / GC Racing, both active across the opening two rounds, are not entered.

Several driver changes are registered across the headline classes. David Selley pilots Team Bermuda (S-25) in Super Stock after Steven Bridges raced the entry at the opening two rounds. In Super Cat, Brit Lilly takes Dirty Money Racing (#3) after Robert Renfroe drove at St. Pete and New Orleans. Ian Morgan is listed for 151 Express (F-66) in Factory Stock; Jorge Arellano took the class win at New Orleans in the same entry. In the F-5 entry, Caleb Mead replaces Zane Mead in what is now registered as MF Racing.

Factory Stock gains two entries new to the series. Logan Adan brings Montlick Injury Attorneys (F-40) to the class, and Michel Karsenti fields Canados Racing (F-36) with the Heritage-Canados entry. Bracket 400 adds Burning Man Offshore Racing (Kyle Dietzen, #499) and Killin It Offshore Racing (Zacko Gerzeny, #435) to bring the class to five boats. Bracket 500 includes Rum Runners Racing (Fran Vellutato, #522) and Tuff Noogies (Gavin Jaffari, #511), neither of which contested the first two rounds. In Bracket 700, Team Punisher (Derek Dawson, #700) is a new entry. Andy Foster is listed as the sole driver for Team 07 Racing (#407) in Bracket 400.

Event Schedule

Venue and Parking

The free public spectator zone runs along the beachfront for the full length of the race course, with open views of the start, finish, and turning marks.

Lori Wilson Park is at 1500 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931. Paid public parking is available at the park, along with restrooms, concessions, vendors, and a merchandise village. The Race Village and dry pit area is on Flounder Drive, where spectators can view boats and crews between races.

The VIP area is located at the Rikki Tiki Tavern inside the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier complex, which also has a Jumbotron screen and direct beach access. The pier sits at the start/finish end of the course. Launching takes place at Scorpion Marine on the Banana River side of the barrier island.

2026 IHRA Offshore Championship

Thunder on Cocoa Beach is Round 3 of the seven-round 2026 IHRA Offshore National Championship. Points from all seven rounds count towards the season title. Current standings after each completed round are maintained at the link below.