Though “fractured” doesn’t begin to describe the 2026 offshore powerboat racing season, it’s a great place to start. Between the implosion of the first-year International Hot Rod Association series—and the IHRA itself—and the half-scrubbed Race World Offshore XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind., this year in the sport has been challenging at best.
The organizers for the Clearwater “Nationals” are expecting 65-plus teams to compete in the event month. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
Sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association this season, Race World Offshore is down to the XINSURANCE Clearwater Offshore “Nationals,” a descriptor from its Super Boat International days that’s in need of retirement for the Southwest Florida affair as it no longer applies. The Key West, Fla.-based outfit produced the Atlantic City Sports Grand Prix in June and the weather-abbreviated Michigan City affair earlier this month.
That puts the Clearwater event in the spotlight. Not only is the September 26-27 contest the final Race World Offshore-produced APBA event, it is the second to last chance for teams qualify for the Key West World Championships November 1-8. Per RWO/APBA requirements, teams must complete in at last two APBA-sanctioned events to compete in Key West.
Set for October 8–11, the Englewood Beach Waterfest APBA National Championship event is the final “qualifier” for Key West.
That the Clearwater event happens relatively close to the Key West Worlds—the site this year for the grand finale of the Union International Motonautique World Champions—has long-made the event a bit of an outlier. Teams want their equipment to be as ready as possible for Key West, so the book on Clearwater among racers often has been that it’s “a little too close to Key West.”
But that was then. This is now.
Rodrick Cox of Race World Offshore said he is expecting 65-plus teams to compete in the Clearwater event, which is being presented by Visit Clearwater-St. Pete. Last year’s event attracted 43 teams.
“Clearwater is a marquee event with lots of hotels and a great race-viewing, and it’s definitely a destination venue, Cox explained. “That’s one of the reasons why we like it. Offshore racing has been happening there for 17 years and that’s a testament in itself. It’s a great venue because it brings usually great conditions for racing with flat waters with a little bit of consistent chop.
“And now that we’re in year two with the Sand Key dry pits location, the commute out of the inlet for the teams to get to the racecourse is so close and it’s really convenient for people to get crane in and get ramped in around the corner at Bel-Air,” he added. “The location has really grown from where it used to be and the crowds in the spectator fleets and the competition continues to grow as well.”
A number of teams are looking forward to the event. The owner/driver of the Super Stock-class CELSIUS/Valvoline team, Chris Hopgood praised the venue for its “great viewing and beautiful beaches.”
Throttleman Julian Maldonado of Factory Stock Jackhammer and Super Stock TFR/Wozencraft teams agreed.
“We love that the teams and fans get some nice, close-to-shore racing,” he said, then chuckled. “But we’re hoping for some ‘shaken-up’ water, unlike those we’ve had the last couple years.”
Added Jacksonville, Fla.-based Bill Pyburn, Jr., the throttleman for Super Cat DMR and Class 1 Club Car Wash teams, “It’s a great venue for us. And a lot of my friends and family are able to attend.”
Short version?
Clearwater is just around the corner. And for offshore racers still in the game, it may mean more than it ever has.