The Thunder on Cocoa Beach event, set for May 15-17, has officially joined the lineup for the first-ever International Hot Rod Association Offshore Racing National Championship Series in 2026. This exciting race along Central Florida’s Atlantic coast marks the third stop in a seven-race regular season for the IHRA.

Previously, the Cocoa Beach race was been produced and sanctioned by a variety of organizations. Until 2018, it was put on by Super Boat International (SBI). Then, from 2019 to 2025, it was produced by Powerboat P1/P1 Offshore and sanctioned by the APBA (with UIM for Class 1 world points starting in 2022). The race will now be produced and sanctioned solely by the IHRA.

The Ohio-based organization, which sanctions both car and powerboat races, recently shared this update about the popular Cocoa Beach competition. The event falls at a pivotal point in the season, where teams will be battling for valuable championship points. The long-running Thunder on Cocoa Beach weekend has built a solid reputation within the offshore racing community over the years. The community's volunteer team is expected to continue playing a major hands-on role in managing the entire weekend.

In late November 2025, the American Power Boat Association's initial 2026 offshore championship calendar had positioned Thunder on Cocoa Beach as the opening race of the season. However, Ryan Beckley—who leads the APBA's offshore racing commission—acknowledged that the Cocoa Beach event has now shifted to align with the IHRA series.

Here is the current 2026 IHRA Offshore National Championship Series schedule:

IHRA will conclude the season with its own World Championships event; dates and location to be announced soon.

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