IHRA Pouring $1.25 Million Into Offshore Racing Purses

[Serious News]

Created: October 10, 2025
Written by Matt Trulio

Offshore racers heading to the Key West World Championships next month will have more than checkered flags and trophies on the line when the first green flags fly. The International Hot Rod Association is putting up a $250,000 purse for the triple-race affair.

Owned by Darryl Cuttell, the Darana-Hybrid Mystic catamaran roared into Lake of the Ozarks Shootout history in August. Photo by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos

Even more far-reaching? In a move to “turn up the throttle as its expansion into powerboat racing surges ahead” the automobile drag-racing organization has confirmed it will fund a $1 million purse in 2026 for what will be called the IHRA Offshore National Championship Series.

The news was announced this morning in a press release.

“This is the start of something extraordinary,” said Darryl Cuttell, IHRA owner and chief executive officer, said in the release.. “We’re not just racing—we’re reviving a movement. Faith, family, and freedom built this sport, and we’re honoring that legacy by investing back into our racers.”

Cuttell purchased the venerable drag-racing organization earlier this year.

Added Carl McBride, the chief technology officer for the International Hot Rod Association, “Technology, logistics, and safety will be at the heart of this next era. Our goal is to give every team the tools, data, and consistency needed to elevate competition and ensure offshore racing continues to grow on a global scale.”

Cuttell (far right) found himself among Lake of the Ozarks Shootout legends John Cosker of Mystic Powerboats and American Ethanol team owner Don Onken.

High-performance powerboating fans unfamiliar with Cuttell and the drag racing world got to know of both in a record-setting hurry when Darana-Hybrid, his turbine engine-powered 51-foot Mystic catamaran reached 242 mph on the three-quarter-mile Lake of the Ozarks Shootout course.

IHRA Pouring $1.25 Million Into Offshore Racing Purses

Offshore racers heading to the Key West World Championships next month will have more than checkered flags and trophies on the line when the first green flags fly. The International Hot Rod Association is putting up a $250,000 purse for the triple-race affair. Owned by […]

www.speedonthewater.com

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. Look for a follow-up report early next week on speedonthewater.com

 

[Ratickle]

Interesting times. People are saying he purchased Race World Offshore and has made an offer on P1 to purchase it but they wanted too much, but I've heard nothing to say that either may be accurate.

This is the first year the Key West Worlds are not recognized by the UIM World Championship governing body in a long time. That is happening now in Englewood, last round of the World's that are recognized as such.

Rumors are flying around everywhere, but Matt's article about 2 (actually 3 if you count OPA), being one too many may increase to 4, (actually 5 if you count OPA)?

Commentary: When Two Is One Too Many

2025 Clearwater Nationals

www.speedonthewater.com

Interesting times........

 

[Ratickle]

Larry says he has not sold Race World Offshore, and that it is not for sale.

One interesting thing that seems weird, why would anyone throw a purse into Key West unless they had some kind of motive?

The last thing that is totally misunderstood, they talk about a 1 million dollar purse total for 8 to 10 races. This season APBA had only a 5-race series because of the dumb move by the insurgents, but the purse on the line total for those 5 races was still over $400,000. So, almost the exact same amount per race?

The new WKRP group said the same thing, but they paid out a small purse at their second race, (their first race was cancelled, just like their third race and their sixth race), not a single penny of a purse after that first race from everything the racers have said. Not one cent.

 

[Ratickle]

I have friends who raced at every WKRP race and never got a single cent of the money they promised they would be giving out at all of their races. Now they have several of the members of that board on the IHRA board. Seems odd that you fold the one after only one season, where you did not meet any of your commitments, and form a new group with the same promises by the same group, but with a new money guy?

 

[Ratickle]

I wonder what's going on now? ​

IHRA Offshore Powerboating Series​

November 21 at 7:38 PM ·

BREAKING NEWS!!!

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is making history...AGAIN!
We’re excited to announce a record-setting $2 MILLION prize purse for the 2026 offshore racing season, dedicated to the future of IHRA in powerboat racing and taking care of its race teams, doubling the initial amount of $1 MILLION dollars, announced only a few short weeks ago.

 

[sonicss31]

Where’s the ROI?

 

[rschap1]

I didn't have that on today's BINGO card...

 

[Pete B]

And yet no schedule to speak of!

 

[Ratickle]

Yeah, there are a lot of people wondering what the heck is going on here with the IHRA group.

The main group is from the WPRA organization, that made all kinds of promises of prize money and TV but never delivered on any of it. According to some who participated, they raced every one of their events, won their National Championship, and never received a single penny in prize money. Some have said the only prize money paid out the entire season was from the first event where they created a "charity" for donations from racers, and they did give some of that back out.

They did pay out a lot of the $250,000 that they said they would in Key West, but not all several of the racers have said. Not sure what the deal is there either because all of the conflicting stories.

I'm also unsure of how the lawsuits against several of their board of directors' members will affect this stuff. It's quite the mess.

We shall have to wait and see how the latest episodes of "How the Propellor Turns" will play out.