Thu, 09 Oct 2014, 18:00 PM Matt Forbes Joins Sunset Performance Engines Team

Courtesy of Sunset Performance Engines

LUBBOCK, Texas --

Matt Forbes

Matt Forbes, 2013 Australian Super Gas Champion and current points leader in the category, has joined forces with Sunset Performance Engines. The highly respected race engine builder from Lubbock, Texas, previously known as Sunset Racecraft reported today that they had reached an agreement with Mr. Forbes that would make him their primary representative in the Australian sportsman drag racing market. "We are expanding our scope of business to include the highly competitive customers in Australia" commented Joe Jolly from Sunset Performance Engines. He went on to say that they have a few customers over there now, but really feel like they can serve the needs of the Australian sportsman racers much better with a representative in the area. "Matt has worked a good bit with Tommy Phillips, one of our standout customers in America, so we feel like he already knows our culture and what we are trying to accomplish in sportsman drag racing. Perhaps equally important, Matt operates with very high standards and expectations, so we believe he fits right in with our team," said Jolly.

Sunset Performance Engines has built many championship winning engines for customers all over the globe, so there's no reason to believe this marketing partnership isn't a perfect match. The sportsman racing in Australia has become very competitive in recent years, and the trend seems to be moving towards bigger, more powerful engines. Sound familiar? It should, because it's a very similar pattern to what the American racers chose when sportsman racing became so popular in the USA. Long time sportsman racer Tommy Phillips speaks very highly of Matt, and is very proud he could help facilitate this partnership. "Matt works very hard at becoming not only the best racer he can be, but spends a lot of time focusing on how his team presents itself as well" said Phillips. "If you're racing for a living, you better be able to handle the business of drag racing as well as you can handle a steering wheel or you will starve to death. Matt does a great job of both."

Matt was equally excited about the alliance. "Today we can confirm our partnership with Sunset Performance Engines, and all I can say is it's a real honor to be working with the team" said Forbes. He went on to say, "This is a very exciting time for my team and this move will help step our program up to the next level. I have been a big fan of Sunset and their reputation for producing powerful racing engines for many years now. They are unsurpassed in outstanding quality, service, and reliability, so I'm very proud to represent them in our market. It is very easy to represent and sell a product that is second to none."

Joe Jolly from Sunset Performance Engines confirmed that they are currently building a new SR20 engine for Matt's second car to be campaigned at selected events. "We are proud to work with Matt and support his racing program. The new engine we are building for Matt is our SR20 598 Big Block Chevy that will produce close to 1200hp. This is an ideal combination for a powerful, low maintenance bracket racing engine as it utilizes our 'in house' fully CNC'd Brodix SR20 cylinder heads".

Sunset Racecraft was founded in 1990 by Tracy Dennis who Matt says had a passion that was infectious to all around him. "Tracy was very generous with his advice and assisted with the purchase of my current Corvette from his close friend and highly successful Sunset backed racer Tommy Phillips. He spent a lot of time with me on the phone and never once told me he was too busy. Tracy was a great man and I think his business is successful because he simply helped everyone he came in contact with, customer or not. In my dealings with the new owner and Joe Jolly, it is apparent that Sunset Performance Engines is committed to carrying on that same passion for helping others."

Matt will also assist in marketing Sunset Performance Engines to the Australian market and can speak with customers about their needs as well as offer advice. Sunset builds many combinations of engines ranging from pump gas, hot rod, and muscle car packages, to top of the line, all out drag racing engines. The company suffered a terrible tragedy in February when its owner and founder, Tracy Dennis lost his life in a non-racing related incident. The company has since been purchased by long-time friend and business associate, Buddy Wood. Mr. Wood has one simple goal.to continue his friend's dream of providing the best racing engines and support on the planet. "We have a lot of exciting plans for Sunset Performance Engines, and I plan to carry on the greatness of Tracy Dennis through his company for many years to come."

With ownership like that, combined with the talents of great employees and superb racers representing them, it could be that Sunset Performance Engines is on its way to even greater days.