Local Event Organizers Respond To Offshore Racing Power Struggle

Michigan City Offshore Racing, the locally based organizing-and-production outfit behind the XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind., issued a formal response to this week’s news from event-producers Race World Offshore and Professional Racing Offshore regarding their exit as member-organizations of the American Powerboat Boat Association and the formation of a new sanctioning body dubbed the World Powerboat Racing Association. The response came from the office of Jack L. Arnett, the chief executive officer of the LaPorte (Ind.) County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Despite their disappointment at the recent turn of events in offshore racing power-circles, organizers of the July 28-August 2 Great Lakes Grand Prix on Lake Michigan have assured races, sponsors and fans that the event will move forward year. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“Michigan City Offshore Racing is very saddened to hear and see all of the distractions that are taking place within our industry,” the statement read. “Much, if not all of this is very poor timing and not something we should be dealing with this late into the 2025 season. It would have made more sense to complete the 2025 season and work through these issues in the off season. Once again the host sites have been put in the middle of a fight that is not ours. To be having this discussion today on May 2 is a poor business model and will cause lots of heartburn for all of us. Most of us have contracts already in place and we are well past the point in time to effectively do a pivot in mid-stream.

“Having said that—Michigan City Offshore Racing does in fact have a fully executed contract in place with RWO for the 2025 season,” the statement continued. “We fully intend to honor that contract. We look forward to working with our partners from RWO along with all of our industry partners as we continue to make the Michigan City site the most racer friendly site in the industry. Everyone is welcome and hopefully all race teams in every class will want to be part of this great event.”

Reached by phone yesterday, Kerry Bartlett the lead organizer and public face of the season-opening, Thunder On Cocoa Beach event set for May 15-18, also emphasized that the Central Florida Atlantic Coast races would go on. The Cocoa Beach affair is sanctioned by the APBA and being produced—except for the its livestream—by Powerboat P1.

“In spite of the apparent turmoil between race organizations, the Keltec Thunder on Cocoa Beach event is locked and loaded for our May 15-18 race event,” Bartlett said. “We welcome all teams and all fans to come join us to one of the best venues, in the entire circuit. Our entire county welcomes teams and fans with open arms.”