Midwest Challenge Heading Into Third Year—And Third Era

Think about the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan, Wis., as having three distinct eras in as many years and you won’t be incorrect. Set for August 8-10, the event —the second stop of the inaugural Monster Energy Triple Crown offshore racing series produced by Powerboat P1, is shifting gears again.

The first-year affair was all about celebrating the 50th anniversary of Mercury Racing,. Only boats powered by the Fond du Lac, Wis., company’s engines were invited. Still, the Sheboygan venue elicited raves from most racers and fans who experienced it.

The Midwest Challenge produced some unforgettable moments in its first two year, not the least of which was then 16-year-old Caleb Mead’s first 450R Factory Stock-class victory with then-throttleman Shaun Torrente. Photo by Brad DiMaggio copyright Scrapyard Media.

Open to all classes, the second-year event marked a new era of inclusion. It also led to a new era of division, as a meeting of Class 1 owners and their subsequent vote for United States-based American Power Boat Association governance of their category rather than existing Europe-based Union International Motonautique governance began a sequence of events that eventually led to birth of a new sanctioning body dubbed the World Offshore Professional Racing Association.

The American Power Boat Association is sanctioning Class 1 competition this season. The World Offshore Professional Racing Association, in turn, is sanctioning Pro Class 1, which came into existence following—though not immediately—the 2025 Midwest Challenge.

The biggest question of course, at least for fans who closely follow the sport, is how many teams will come to Sheboygan next month to compete in the Class 1 ranks. The Monster Energy/M CON and DeFalco teams are committed. Beyond those Class 1 outfits, no additional teams in the category could be confirmed at this time.

Though the final counts are far from solid, the spec-class Super Cat, Super Stock, Factory Stock and Mod-V groups will have teams in Sheboygan. Owners group representative Ryan Beckley estimates 14 to 16 Super Stock teams will be on hand for both days of racing, as well as for the previous weekend’s XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind. Stephen Kildahl of the Mod V group said he expects as many as eight teams to make it.

Owners group Win Farnsworth estimated that four to five teams will be in the Super Cat-class mix.

Sheboygan is one of offshore powerboat racing’s most scenic venues.

One thing is certain: The City of Sheboygan is committed to hosting another strong event. And for good reason—according to a Powerboat P1 press release, the 2024 happening attracted 21,246 visitors to the charming Wisconsin beach-town and generated $3,668,924 in visitor spending.

“We are thrilled to bring this incredible boating event back to Sheboygan, the ‘Malibu of the Midwest,’” Ryan Sorenson, the city’s mayor, said in the release. “It’s a celebration of our community, highlighting our beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline and deep-rooted boating culture.

“From high-speed excitement to lakeside fun, this is a moment for our city, businesses, and boating enthusiasts to come together and shine,” he added. “It’s one of the highlights of our summer.”

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