Osage Beach, MO & Key West, FL—In a landmark decision poised to reshape the landscape of offshore powerboat racing, Professional Racing Offshore (PRO), which produces the Shootout Offshore event in the Lake of the Ozarks, MO, and Race World Offshore (RWO), which produces the Key West Offshore World Championship, have jointly announced their withdrawal from the American Power Boat Association (APBA) to form an independent national sanctioning body. The announcement came by way of a press release sent to Speedboat Magazine.
The move, effective immediately, comes off the heels of weeks of heated discussions between the principals of PRO, RWO and the APBA and Class leaders to ultimately come to agreeable terms just ahead of the offshore race season, which is scheduled to kick off in two weeks at the Thunder on Cocoa Beach race in Florida, which is produced by P1 Offshore.
The decision is designed to unite two of the sport’s most prominent organizations under a single banner with a racer-centric philosophy. All events hosted by PRO and RWO in 2025 will now operate under newly developed rules and standards, designed to prioritize competitive integrity, safety and innovation.
“This is about uniting the racing community, modernizing the rules, and taking our sport to the next level,” said Justin Martin of Professional Racing Offshore. “We are committed to growing offshore racing for fans, racers, and sponsors alike.”
“This is more than a partnership—it’s a statement,” added Larry Bleil, owner of Race World Offshore. “We believe offshore racing deserves a governing body that listens to the racers, streamlines the rulebook, and treats the sport like the world-class motorsport it is.”
The two organizations emphasized that the new governing body—set to be officially named in the coming weeks—will establish consistent regulations across all events, focusing on racer safety, technical compliance, and fan engagement. The initiative is expected to streamline oversight while expanding the sport’s reach in North America and internationally.
Confirmed Events for the 2025 Season Include:
A full 2025 race calendar will be released in the near future.
The APBA has been the governing body of offshore racing since 1964 and the racing organizations have recognized their rules and points system as the standard for competition and championships.
The press release states that the newly formed alliance between PRO and RWO will be a defining moment for offshore racing, as the sport embarks on a bold new chapter focused on unification, modernization, and growth.