Last Saturday’s news that the Super Cat-class owners have agreed to follow the 2026 International Hot Rod Association Offshore Racing National Championship Series schedule was big for the Ohio-based organization. With 11 teams heading into this season, the Super Cat category is one of two big fish that the fledgling offshore racing production and sanctioning body absolutely needed to land.
The other is the Super Stock class, and the IHRA secured its commitment earlier this month.
There could be as many as 20 Super Stock teams in the mix this year, which far and away makes it the largest class in the sport.
By comparison, the Pro Class 1 category, which hold offshore racing’s biggest and baddest catamarans, likely will see a half-dozen teams this year.
Representatives from the Mod V, Super V, Factory Stock and Cat 300 classes—the remaining Spec classes—have not announced their intentions. Nor have offshore racing’s many Bracket classes. Chances are good, however, that most of them will follow the Super Cat and Super Stock leads, though nothing is guaranteed.
The IHRA released its seven-event regular-season schedule, but has not released the dates or venues for its World Championships. Also still pending release are its technical and racing rules. And the organization has yet to announce how it will handle safety.
So big questions remain. And offshore racers and fans are right to ask them.
Still, the automobile and (new) powerboat racing outfit has made significant inroads since it burst on the scene in late 2025. Its considerable progress began with the $250,000 purse it paid at the 2025 Race World Offshore Key West World Championships in Novemer and the IHRA’s subsequent pledge to pay out $2 million in prize money this season.
Without question, with its first event of the year—the St. Petersburg Grand Prix in Southwest Florida—just two months away, the organization is off to a strong start.