With a record-setting turnout as well as record-setting fundraising for children’s charities in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., the fourth annual Super Cat Fest West event two weekends ago will be a tough act to follow. The event raves from participants and sponsors. Thanks to organizer Dave Johnson and his hardworking crew, Super Cat Fest West is here to stay.
High-performance marine insurance and finance man Devin Wozencraft is bringing his 34-foot catamaran to the Desert Storm Poker Run affair for the first time. Photo from the 2026 Florida Powerboat Club Tampa Powerboat Week by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
But if any performance-boating event can make the same sort of seismic impact on the Lake Havasu area, it is this weekend’s Anderson Powersports Desert Storm Poker Run presented by KICKER Marine Audio.
Just as they did during Super Cat Fest West, companies including American Marine Performance, DCB Performance Marine, Deep Impact Custom Boats, DWR/Doug Wright Powerboats, MTI, Skater Powerboats and more plan to make a big splash at the 28th annual Desert Storm affair.
This time around, the International Hot Rod Association has taken on the title sponsor role for the Thursday night street party. And that was a particularly savvy marketing move given the IHRA’s entry into offshore powerboat racing this season.
Why? The Desert Storm street bash attracts performance-boats fans, no doubt. But it also pulls in folks who know little to nothing about boats yet also happen to be motorsports fans. Most if not all will recognize the IHRA brand.
Though Wozencraft Insurance and Finance has long sponsored a floating card stop for the Friday poker run, company principal Devin Wozencraft will run his 34-foot Victory catamaran on Lake Havasu during the week for the first time.
“My boat just arrived in town last night,” he said. “First time on the West Coast for it—I am really looking forward to running it on Lake Havasu.”
Wozencraft also will have the 34-footer on display in the Thursday night street celebration.
“The street party is by far my favorite part of Desert Storm,” he said. “It has become the premier street party in our industry that all other events try to duplicate. It has been around much longer than the one during the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout or any of the others. It rivals Friday night on Duvall Street at the Key West Offshore World Championships.”
The fun starts Thursday/ Speedonthewater.com contributing photographer Jeff Helmkamp will be there to capture all the action.