New CELSIUS Energy Drink Flavors And More Celebrated In Ignite Super Stock Raceboat Graphics

Heading into its second season as the primary sponsor of the Super Stock-class Ignite offshore racing team, CELSIUS® energy drink is making the most of its opportunity to showcase what the publicly traded company bills as “a better-for-you alternative to other high-sugar energy drinks on the market.” The team’s 32-foot Doug Wright Powerboats catamaran will be rewrapped at Kinetic Animation, a Bradenton, Fla., company owned by Ignite team throttleman Ryan Beckley, with graphics featuring two of the latest CELSIUS flavors, Fantasy Vibe and Oasis Vibe.

With CELSIUS backing for the second year in a row, the Super Stock-class Ignite racing team is expecting to compete at the highest level this season. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

The 32-footer’s new graphics will be applied in time for the season-opening Race World Offshore 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix, April 28-30, in Marathon, Fla. Throughout the season, the CELSIUS marketing team will “provide fans and consumers with on-site activations, product sampling and engaging social media initiatives,” according to a press release from the thriving Boca Raton, Fla., beverage creator.

“We couldn’t be more excited to continue and build upon our partnership with CELSIUS in 2023,” said Chris Hopgood, the owner and driver of the CELSIUS offshore racing team. “We are looking forward to a successful race season and are energized by the opportunity to promote the CELSIUS brand across the country at new race sites this year.”

The CELSIUS/Ignite team is one nine Super Stock outfits registered for the 7 Mile Offshore Grand—some 57 teams currently are signed up for the Middle Keys races. In addition to the Marathon event, the team will compete in the following races.

• May 18-21: Thunder On Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach, Fla.
• July 1-2: Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix, Sarasota, Fla.
• August 4-5: Great Lakes Grand Prix, Michigan City, Ind.
• August 11-13: Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge, Sheboygan, Wis.
• September 1-3: St. Pete Grand Prix, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• September 22-24: Clearwater ‘Nationals’, Clearwater, Fla.
• November 5-12: Key West World Championship, Key West, Fla.

When CELSIUS/Ignite team arrives for the season-opener in Marathon, Fla., this month it will boast all-new graphics.

As previously reported on speedonthwater.com, the CELSIUS/Ignite team repowered in the off-season. Grant’s Signature Racing of Bradenton, Fla., replaced the boat’s existing two-stroke Mercury Racing 300XS outboard engines with a pair of four-stroke 300R outboards from the Fond du Lac, Wis., company.

“I would guess that this year’s list of real sponsors involved with offshore racing is the largest total sum/dollars in a very long time, if not ever,” said Beckley, a 30-year veteran of the sport. “This season shows a lot of promise. I hope the teams and sanctions take it seriously and put their best foot forward.

“Hopefully with all of this commercial involvement some of it will trickle back to the actual race teams via prize money, lower fees and increased promotion in the form of improved livestream coverage and television production,” he added. “It’s an exciting time to be in the sport.”