What To Watch And Where And When To Watch It: A Quick Guide To The Midwest Challenge

Offshore racing returns to Sheboygan, Wis., for the second year in a row with this weekend’s Powerboat P1-produced Midwest Challenge. But there is a marked difference between the inaugural event and this one: Super Cat, Super V, Mod V and Bracket-class teams will be allowed to compete. In the first Sheboygan outing, only classes with Mercury Racing engines were permitted to enter as the event was one of several last year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Fond du Lac, Wis., high-performance marine power and accessories company.

Caleb Mead’s 450R Factory Stock-class victory last year in Sheboygan, Wis., provided one of the most touching moments in recent offshore-racing history. Photos by Brad DiMaggio copyright Scrapyard Media.

The result? Last year, 25 offshore racing teams spread across three classes—Class 1, Super Stock and 450R Factory Stock—competed in the Midwest Challenge. At present, 42 teams spread across nine classes are signed up. And registration is still open.

Here’s a quick look at the weekend racing schedule:

Saturday, August 10

11:30 a.m.—Class 1 qualifying
12:45 p.m.—Super Stock
2:15 p.m.—450R Factory Stock and Super V
3:15 p.m.—Class 1

Sunday, August 11
11 a.m.—Class 1
12:15—Brackets 700, 600 and 500
1:45 p.m.—Mod V, Brackets 400 and 300
2:45 p.m.—Super Cat

Note: Offshore racing schedules are prone to frequent changes. Please check the most current online schedule for updates throughout the weekend.

Where To Watch

In a perfect world, offshore racing fans would spend two days on Sheboygan’s beautiful beachfront, which presents a great view of the entire racecourse. That is without question the place to be in you’re in town for the races. But as pesky details such as work, travel and budget often intrude, both days of racing will be carried live on the P1 Offshore Facbook page.

Note: The livestream is free. If there is any sort of payment required to watch the races, you’re being ripped off. Head for the P1 Offshore Facebook page.

Hot Storylines
• Class 1—The Midwest Challenge is the third race of the Powerboat P1-produced Union International Motonautique Class 1 World Championship and the Monster Energy/M CON team currently leads the standings. But with one race Saturday and another one Sunday, that lead could change. Four teams have registered so far and the XINSURANCE team reportedly will join the fray in Sheboygan after missing the first two races of the Class 1 series.

With two races on tap in Sheboygan this weekend, the Class 1 series point standings easily could change.

• Super Cat—In the first four American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series races so far this season, the M CON/Monster Energy team has earned the points lead. But the Dirty Money team has provided ferocious competition and will again in Sheboygan. Formerly the Rollin Transport/SV Offshore team, the SV Offshore/Austin Homes team will be racing under a new sponsor banner in its Wisconsin home-waters, so the SV outfit has plenty of motivation.

• Super Stock—Though the Super Stock-class team owners have their own series, the current APBA series standings have Jackhammer holding a narrow lead over CELSIUS for first place. But Super Stock is an ultra-competitive category, and 12 teams are currently signed up for Sheboygan. The Super Stock contest could well be the race of the weekend.

Not only does the Jackhammer team enter Sheboygan as the APBA series Super Stock-class leader, the team took first place in both races at the venue last year.

• 450R Factory Stock—The current standings for 450R Factory Stock class have the Montlick Injury Attorneys team with a strong points lead, followed by Hank’s Saloon Racing and Gladiator Canados. All three teams are running 38-foot Doug Wright catamarans. In 2023, then 16-year-old driver Caleb Mead notched his first 450R Factory Stock win alongside throttleman Shaun Torrente in the Mead Family Racing MTI 390XR cat. The venue has been good to them, and it could be again.

• Mod V—In what could be dubbed a “an intra-agency specialty insurance group competition,” the points chase is tight between the new XINSURANCE/Statement Marine in first place and Safe Cash/XINSURANCE in second place. At present, only the Safe Cash/XINSURANCE team is registered for the Midwest Challenge so those roles could reverse easily if the Statement team doesn’t make it. Registered for the Midwest Challenge last year’s APBA world and national champion Sun Print/El Bandido Yankee Tequila team currently is running fifth in the series, the team could use a good showing in Sheboygan.

Click here for the most current APBA series standings.