Bermuda Duo Battle the Chop at Thunder on Cocoa Beach
IslandStats.com
The roar of the IHRA Offshore Racing Series made a thunderous return to the Florida coastline this weekend as the international fleet descended on the "Space Coast" for the highly anticipated Thunder on Cocoa Beach 2026.
Spectators lined the shores to witness a high-octane spectacle, but for the drivers behind the wheel, the opening day of competition was anything but a pleasure cruise. Challenging conditions dominated the session, with choppy Atlantic waters forcing teams to rely on technical precision and sheer physical endurance rather than raw top-end speed.
In the highly competitive Super Stock class, the Bermudian contingent faced a stern test against the elements. David Selly and Stephen Bridges, piloting Team Bermuda S25, navigated the turbulent swells to secure a solid sixth-place finish. The pair crossed the line with a time of 5:27.774, maintaining a disciplined line throughout the opening heats despite the erratic surface.
Further down the field, the Nuff Said S12 entry also found itself in a grueling mid-pack scuffle. The team of Lewis Martin and Nick Imprescia battled through the spray to finish in eighth position, clocking in at 5:31.622. While both teams will be looking to close the gap on the podium leaders, their ability to navigate such a punishing course without mechanical incident serves as a promising foundation for the remainder of the event.
As the sun sets over Cocoa Beach, all eyes are now on the forecast for race day two. The consensus among the pits is one of cautious optimism, with drivers hoping the heavy chop will ease up to allow for a more comfortable and faster racing surface. A flatter sea would provide the Bermudian pilots with the perfect opportunity to put in the maximum effort required to climb the standings and improve on their day-one results.
