SHEBOYGAN – The schedule has been finalized and tickets are now available for the inaugural Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge powerboat races to be held on Sheboygan’s lakefront Aug. 11-13.
The festivities will kick off on Friday, Aug. 11 with a block party in downtown Sheboygan from 6-10 p.m. that will include food trucks, a brat fry, live music, and an opportunity to meet the race teams and view the powerboats up close.
Saturday, Aug. 12 and Sunday, Aug. 13 will feature two days of powerboat racing organized by P1 Offshore and F1 Powerboat. The races are sponsored by Mercury Racing of Fond du Lac, which is celebrating its 50th year in 2023.
Race categories include the UIM Class 1 World Championship, F1 Powerboat Championship, along with various offshore racing classes. More than 40 teams from around the world are expected to participate, including competitors from Australia, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Canada and the United Kingdom.
UIM Class 1 boats can reach speeds in excess of 160 mph, while F1 powerboats can reach 120 mph. F1 boats can also accelerate from 0-100 mph in five seconds, which is comparable to a Formula 1 race car.
Saturday and Sunday’s festivities will be centered around Deland Park and the Harbor Centre Marina, with pit areas and a Fan Zone with vendors, event merchandise, activities and free viewing of the races.
General admission tickets are free, but single-day and two-day VIP packages are now available for those seeking reserved seating with up-close and personal viewing of the races. All VIP tickets include complimentary food, drinks, comfortable seating under a tent, and a televised livestream of the race. To order tickets, visit mercuryracing.com/midwestchallenge.html.
The Midwest Challenge will put the city of Sheboygan and its Lake Michigan shoreline in the international spotlight, as the races will be broadcast worldwide. In the United States, the races will be televised on both CBS Sports Network and Bally Sports Regional Networks.
Here is the full schedule for the weekend:
Friday, Aug. 11
6-10 p.m. – Block party in downtown Sheboygan
Saturday, Aug. 12
10-10:30 a.m. – Class 1 Pole Race, Offshore Race Course
10:30-11 a.m. – F1 Testing and Qualifying, F1 Race Course
11-11:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremony, Color Guard
11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. – F1 Heat 1, F1 Race Course
12-12:30 p.m. – F1 Heat 2, F1 Race Course
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Military Demonstration, River Crossing
1:30-2:30 p.m. – Class 1 Race 1, Offshore Race Course
2:30-3:30 p.m. – F450R Race 1, F1 Race Course
3:30-4:30 p.m. – Superstock 1 Race 1, Offshore Race Course
5-6:30 p.m. – River Parade, Class Winners Only, Meet the Legends, River/Blue Harbor Resort
Sunday, Aug. 13
10:30-11 a.m. – F1 Heat 3, F1 Race Course
11-11:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremony, Color Guard
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Superstock 1 Race 2, Offshore Race Course
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Military Demonstration, River Crossing
1:30-2:30 p.m. – F450R Race 2, F1 Race Course
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Class 1 Race 2, Offshore Race Course
3:30-4:30 p.m. – F1 Finals, F1 Race Course
6 p.m. – Awards, Vendor Area
F1 boats can also accelerate from 0-100 mph in five seconds.
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