How And When To Catch The Ocean City Grand Prix If You’re Nowhere Near Maryland
As of this morning, 29 race teams have registered—see the current roster—for this weekend’s inaugural Race World Offshore Grand Prix in Ocean City. Md. Unless something dramatic happens today, the event is likely to field the smallest fleet in the American Power Boat Offshore National Championship Series, which boasts eight events this season.
As it has so far the season, the Super Cat class is on track to provide excellent action in Ocean City, Md., this weekend. Photo by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Jeff Helmkamp Photos.
Multiple factors including—but limited to—Ocean City being a new race for the Key West, Fla.-based event producer and the last weekend’s Shootout Offshore the prior weekend’s Thunder On Coca Beach races being a triple-whammy for the teams in terms of prep and travel. The triple-weekend race schedule was difficult enough for the Super Stock-class owners group not to include it in their internal points schedule, despite that it is a double-points event.
But there is good news, of course.
First, seven Super Cat teams are in Ocean City. With three races in the APBA series completed, that class has produced some of the best competition of the season so far. Likewise in the competitive Bracket 500 ranks, the engaging class has four teams four teams in Ocean City this weekend, as does the Bracket 700 class.
On the spec side, the Mod V class has four teams in town for the weekend.
Asked if he expects the fleet overall fleet to grow before the first green flag lies, Race World Offshore head Larry Bleil said simply, “Absolutely I am.”
Here’s a quick look at the weekend competition schedule:
Saturday, June 8
1 p.m.—Bracket 400, 500, 700 and 3x
2 p.m.—450R Factory Stock and Super V
Sunday, June 9
12 p.m.—Mod V and Bracket 200 and 300
1 p.m.—Super Stock (No teams are currently registered for this class.)
2:30 p.m.—Super Cat
On both days, fans can catch all the action live on the Race World Offshore Facebook page and YouTube channel. Key West sports-veteran Todd Swofford and award-winning writer/speedonthewater.com offshore racing correspondent Eric Colby will be handling the broadcast.
Offshore racing schedules often change at the last minute. Speedonthewater.com will provide schedule-change updates as they become available.
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