The 6th annual Monster Energy St. Petersburg Powerboat Grand Prix kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday on the downtown waterfront. Admission is free.
New ownership takes the helm this year. The International Hot Rod Association purchased P1 Offshore, the race’s previous promoter, back in October 2025.
“Everything’s going to be ramped up,” said IHRA executive vice president and director of powerboating Tommy Thomassie, according to St. Pete Catalyst. “We want to expand upon the past successes and make it bigger and better both on land and water.”
This weekend launches the IHRA Offshore Powerboat Series. Races will happen in New Orleans; at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri; in St. Clair, Michigan; and in Orange Beach, Alabama. Prize money totals $2,000,000.
About 50 boats will compete. They come in different sizes. Class 1 vessels stretch more than 40 feet long and can hit speeds up to 160 miles per hour. Most watercraft measure between 30 and 40 feet in length, though the smallest qualifying boats are just 21 feet. Each runs with a crew of two people.
Around 140 jet skis will race on a course next to Spa Beach near the St. Pete Pier. Top speeds reach 80 miles per hour.
Visit St. Pete–Clearwater expects the weekend will bring more than 12,000 overnight stays.
The dates changed this year. Previous boat racing weekends happened in September or October.
This timing may not last. Thomassie explained that the IHRA team is working with the City of St. Petersburg to find dates when all three parks are available.
“If we can get all three of the parks and find a weekend when they are open and available, I think we are definitely interested in doing a multi-year agreement with the city,” he added.
Albert Whitted Park, Demens Landing Park, and the St. Pete Pier will host the Grand Prix. Vinoy Park held activities in past years.
A pit party at Albert Whitted Park, at 480 Bayshore Drive SE, starts the festivities Friday at 6 p.m. Teams will begin testing their boats Friday to qualify for Saturday and Sunday races.