Travis Pastrana P1 Offshore Invitational Attracts Motorsports Icons

As offshore powerboat races go, the Travis Pastrana P1 Offshore Invitational powered by Traxxas—held under the radar in St. Petersburg, Fla.—was relatively tame, a time-trial event on a 1.7-mile course using canopied 32-foot V-bottoms powered by Mercury Racing 525 EFI engines. But Pastrana, who arguably is the world’s most influential extreme sports athlete, always attracts a high-octane crowd to his circle to any event that bears his name.

And that’s where the fun started.

Several big-time sponsors including Monster Energy backed the promotional event. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Pastrana’s star power translated to a roster of competitors that included Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch, action sports pioneer Brian Deegan, all-around moto icon Ryan Villopoto, Nitro Circus FMX favorite Blake “Bilko” Williams, moto legend Ricky Johnson, trailblazing skate athlete Lyn-z Pastrana, five-time Crossfit Games winner Mat Fraser and Marcus Luttrell, a decorated Navy SEAL, best-selling author and motivational speaker.

“I invited a competitive group of racers, entertainers and friends to experience offshore boat racing for themselves,” said Pastrana, in a press release from Thrill One Sports and Entertainment, which produced the daylong event. “I got my first taste of this sport in 2019 racing my good friend Britt Lilly’s powerboat. Then last year I had the opportunity to join the Miss GEICO team and compete in the top class of the Offshore Championship Series. Now I’m hooked.”

Check out the slideshow above to enjoy more images from the early 2021 St. Petersburg, Fla., competition.

Save for the event’s namesake, all were rookie drivers paired with experienced Stock V-class offshore racing throttlemen using their own raceboats decked out in event-sponsor graphics and divided into four teams. Kevin Smith from LSB Offshore Racing throttled for Team Monster Energy, Steve Miklos throttled of Sunprint Racing throttled for Team Black Rifle Coffee, Stan Perkoski of Fast Boys Racing throttled Team Pit Viper and veteran Offshore Powerboat Association racer/media relations man Nick Smith throttled for Team Power Plus.

The event used a round-robin bracket format. Each driver and throttleman did one timed lap. The drivers with best times advanced until just two remained for the final round.

“My aim was to get everyone outside of their comfort zones by trading pavement and dirt for the water,” Pastrana said.

“Travis first raced with P1 at Cocoa Beach in 2019 and it will be great to see him return there at the end of May to drive the Miss GEICO boat in the opening round of the 2021 P1 Offshore season in conjunction with the American Power Boat Association and the Offshore Powerboat Association,” said Azam Rangoonwala, the chief executive officer of Powerboat P1/P1 Offshore. “We are delighted to have him involved with our sport and we’re excited to partner with Thrill One.”

So who walked away with the title? Fans will have to wait until event coverage airs April 18 at 9 a.m. EST on Fox Sports 1. The show also will be included as part of the P1 Offshore season preview show screened on CBS Sports Network and across the Bally Sports Regional Networks.

But there was much more than a trophy at stake.

“The winner of the invitational event will race in the Miss GEICO boat at one of our events this season,” Rangoonwala said.

Said Pastrana, “My aim was to get everyone outside of their comfort zones by trading pavement and dirt for the water.” Photo courtesy/copyright Thrill One Sports and Entertainment

Travis Pastrana P1 Offshore Invitational Attracts Motorsports Icons

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