If the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship ended today—meaning before this weekend’s Clearwater ‘Nationals’—results would rest on points earned in just two events, roughly one-third of the average national championship series sample-size. Asterisks denoting titles claimed during a two-race season wouldn’t just be appropriate, they’d be essential to keep things in perspective.
The Dirt Legal/Velocity Factory Racing team leads in the current standings. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
Fortunately, that’s not the case. The APBA-sanctioned national series ends next month in Englewood Beach, Fla. Counting this weekend’s event up the road in Clearwater, that means the titles will be decided during a respectable five races.
A quick look at the current standings posted on the Race World Offshore website shows the following teams leading their categories:
• Class 1—Club Car Wash/BPR.
• Super Cat—Dirty Money Racing.
• Super Stock—HBS Motorsports.
• Factory Stock/Class 2—Team Montlick.
• Mod V—NVMB Resort.
• DSK Marine—Super V.
• Bracket 200—OC Racing.
• Bracket 300—Herbott Racing.
• Bracket 400—Hartman/XINSURANCE.
• Bracket 500—Rum Runners.
• Bracket 600—Moderation.
• Bracket 700—Dirt Legal/Velocity Factory Racing.
• V Limited—Ultimate Boat Racing Experience.
• Cat 300—Pantera Mike Racing.
Of course, none of the points accrued during the inaugural and now-defunct International Hot Rod Association Offshore Series count toward the APBA standings. The IHRA was its own sanctioning body and race producer, and most teams that supported it didn’t stray to the Race World Offshore produced-APBA series until the IHRA effort fell apart and the next APBA-sanctioned race was the early August Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind.
Teams that competed in one or both races on the APBA schedule that have run to date—the Atlantic City Sports Grand Prix in June and the Great Lakes Grand Prix last month—naturally rank higher in the current standings than those that did not.
But thanks to conditions during the Michigan City weekend, there’s a big wrinkle when it comes to the Super Stock, Mod V, Bracket 600 and 700 and V Limited classes. Those races were slated for Sunday, and the weather forced the organizers to cancel competition that day. Teams that competed on Saturday scored points in Michigan City. Those that didn’t went home empty.
The good news for those teams, per APBA Offshore Racing Commission chairman Ryan Beckley, is those teams will race for the Michigan City points in Clearwater on Sunday barring unforeseen circumstances such as weather. And all teams also will have a chance to score more points—and get in the two races required to score points in the three-contest November 1-8 Key West World Championships—in Englewood Beach next month.
To loosely borrow from the late Tom Petty, future opportunities to make up APBA National Championships—as well as add to existing leads in all categories—are wide open.
Editor’s note: Click here to view the current APBA Offshore National Championship Series standings
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