Tommy Thomassie has resigned as executive vice president and director of powerboating at the International Hot Rod Association, less than 100 days after taking up the post and two weeks after the organisation ran its first offshore race in St. Petersburg, Florida.<\/p>\n
Powerboat News has been covering the IHRA Offshore Racing Series since the $2 million prize purse announcement in November 2025. The public response to that coverage has been clear. Our St. Pete preview<\/a> became the most-read article in PBN\u2019s history. Our New Orleans preview<\/a>, published ahead of this weekend\u2019s second round, is drawing significant traffic of its own. Interest in offshore powerboat racing among the general public is not a niche phenomenon.<\/p>\n That context makes Thomassie\u2019s departure all the more significant. He was the man brought in to build something.<\/p>\n The appointment<\/p>\n On December 31, 2025, the IHRA named Tommy Thomassie<\/a> as executive vice president and director of powerboating. The announcement came on the last day of 2025, signalling the organisation\u2019s intent to move quickly as it prepared for a six-event, $2 million season. Thomassie\u2019s brief was to build the offshore programme from scratch in the time available before the St. Pete opener.<\/p>\n By any measure, St. Pete happened. Sixty-five boats competed. The IHRA distributed substantial prize money<\/a> across the field. Two weeks later, Thomassie informed the IHRA he was resigning.<\/p>\n Thomassie\u2019s statement<\/p>\n