About a month ago, residents and guests saw IndyCar Series vehicles race in St. Petersburg as part of the Firestone Grand Prix. Another sports tradition is returning this weekend.
This time it’s on the water.
The 6th annual Monster Energy St. Petersburg Powerboat Grand Prix will take place Friday (March 27) through Sunday on the downtown waterfront. Admission is free.
This year’s event is the first under new ownership. The International Hot Rod Association acquired the race’s former promoter P1 Offshore in October 2025.
“Everything’s going to be ramped up,” said IHRA executive vice president and director of powerboating Tommy Thomassie. “We want to expand upon the past successes and make it bigger and better both on land and water.”
It will also be the kickoff for the IHRA Offshore Powerboat Series, which includes races in New Orleans, Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, St. Clair, Michigan and Orange Beach, Alabama. The total purse is $2,000,000.
Visit St. Pete – Clearwater representatives anticipate that the event will result in more than 12,000 overnight stays.
Approximately 50 boats of various sizes will be part of the racing experience, he added. Class 1 vessels, which are more than 40 feet long, can reach speeds of up to 160 miles per hour. A majority of the competing watercraft will be between 30 to 40 feet in length, according to the VSPC website. However, the smallest qualifying boats are 21 feet in length.
Each will have a crew of two people.
Additionally, about 140 jet skis will race on a course adjacent to Spa Beach (near the St. Pete Pier). They can go up to 80 miles per hour.
Thomassie explained that the IHRA team has focused on enhancing the Grand Prix’s production, including increasing the quality of the live stream. This year’s event also has a unique date. Previously, the boat racing weekend was held in September or October.
The timing may just be temporary. Currently, the Grand Prix is “primarily based” at Albert Whitted Park, Demens Landing Park and the St. Pete Pier. In the past, Vinoy Park hosted activities.
“We are working with the City of St. Petersburg to try to find dates,” he added. “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.”
A pit party at Albert Whitted Park, at 480 Bayshore Drive SE, will begin the festivities Friday at 6 p.m. Teams will begin testing their boats Friday to qualify for the Saturday and Sunday races.
Attendees are able to purchase a IHRA Offshore VIP Experience which includes access to a private viewing deck at Pier Teaki on the St. Pete Pier.
For more information about the event, visit this link.