Watch-Party Planning Essentials For XINSURANCE Offshore

Renamed this year for its title sponsor, this weekend’s XINSURANCE Offshore powerboat races at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central will be the first event run under the new World Powerboat Racing Association sanction rather than that of the American Power Boat Association. Six Pro Class 1 teams, including two backed by the Utah-based specialty insurer, will compete on Saturday and Sunday, as will an impressive 16 Super Stock-class teams and five Super Cat outfits.

Offshore racing fans will get enjoy Willy Cabeza’s recently rewrapped Factory Stock MTI 390XR raceboat in action this weekend.

Though the organizers are expecting an event-record-setting racer-and-fan turnout, not every offshore racing fan can be there, of course. So around the country, watch-parties tomorrow and Sunday are sure to flow. Here’s are a few bits of information you need—in addition to food and drink—to help make your celebration succeed.

First, the two-day race schedule:

Saturday, June 21
10 a.m.—Mod V and Cat 300.
11 a.m.— Super Stock (heat No. 1).
11:30 a.m.— Super Stock (heat No. 2).
12 p.m.—Bracket 400 and 200.
1 p.m.—Factory Stock, Super V and Extreme.
2 p.m.—Super Cat.
3 p.m.—Pro Class 1.
4 p.m.—Bracket 700, 600 and 500.

Sunday, June 22
10 a.m.—Mod V and Cat 300.
11 a.m.—Super Stock.
1 p.m. Factory Stock, Super V and Extreme.
2 p.m.—Super Cat.
3 p.m.—Pro Class 1.

A Gentle Reminder
Offshore races do not always start and finish on time. Patience isn’t just a virtue for offshore racing fans. It’s a necessity.

Viewing The Livestream
In past years, different race producers such as Race World Offshore and Powerboat P1 has produced their own livestream broadcasts, which included aerial footage via the XINSURANCE video helicopter owned by company principal Rick J. Lindsey and manned on the video side by his son, Parker. Organizers of the upcoming Lake of the Ozarks event have gone a different direction and have contracted with the Victory+ group for their livestream. Would-be viewers will need to register with Victory+ to enjoy the stream. Click here to make that happen.

Worth Noting
The Victory+ streaming service boasts a strong sports-broadcasting background and track-record. Still, given that the outfit is new to offshore viewers, fans might want sign-up the demo before the races—meaning today—so they can get familiar with the platform.

Once they’ve done that, all that remains for watch-party hosts is foraging for food and drink.

Four Hot Story Lines
• Throttleman John Tomlinson is teaming up with driver Caleb Mead for the first time in the Factory Stock-class Mead Family Racing MTI 390XR raceboat.
• The event’s title sponsor will debut two new Pro Class 1 teams—XINSURANCE and XINSURANCE South—this weekend.
• As noted above, 16 teams are registered for the races. Accordingly to class representative Ryan Beckley, it is the largest Super Stock class turnout in year.

Said Beckley, “By the end of the year you could see a Super Stock race with 20 teams.”