SCC: Matt Plumb signs with Horsepower Ranch Racing

Matt Plumb Signed to Horsepower Ranch Racing for 2009 KONI Sports Car Challenge
Joins fellow race-winner Mike Canney for 2009

(Mooresville, NC) 23 December 2008--Even though he's a laid-back guy who doesn't tend to call attention to himself, things always seem to change when Matt Plumb straps into a race car as he tends to make a pretty big impression from behind the wheel.

Witness his 2008 season, which saw him leading the very first race he started as a Daytona Prototype driver against the star-studded field in last year's Rolex 24 At Daytona. He then went on to make history as he won the first professional race held at New Jersey Motorsports Park by winning the KONI Sports Car Challenge ST class with Bill Fenton Motorsports.

Even though it was the first time he'd raced a Ford Mustang FR500C in GS Class competition, that big impression continued as Plumb teamed with his brother Hugh and Mike Canney to win the season-ending Bosch Engineering Six Hour at VIR in October.

So it was none too surprising that the newly-formed Horsepower Ranch squad has inked Plumb to drive the 2009 season to co-drive with Canney in the No. 60 Sunset Hills Mustang. The two-car team will see Matt's brother Hugh team with Jack Roush Jr. in the sister team entry, with both Mustangs being operated out of Mooresville, NC.

"This is a great opportunity for me and I'm really excited to get things off to a fast start down in Daytona," said Plumb, who also scored a podium in Rolex Sports Car Series competition with an outstanding drive in challenging conditions at Mid-Ohio. "Mike (Canney) kept making great progress through the season last year, right up to our win at VIR, so I'm really looking forward to a full-year program that should have us in the championship fight."

Plumb, who shares his brother's dedication to fitness and strict training outside of the car, is looking forward to his new environment as Horsepower Ranch targets success in it's first season in Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge racing.

"There are a lot of good resources going into this effort, particularly from the human resources point of view," said Plumb, who will return to the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the No. 69 Speedsource Mazda RX-8 entry. "There are some very smart and very experienced guys who are involved with this effort, so I think we should be able to get a fast start right from Daytona. Obviously Mike and I got off to a good start working together last year with the win at VIR, and that's something that this team is going to be building on this year. It's also a great opportunity to race with my brother (Hugh) as a teammate because we get along great so that makes the experience that much better."

Plumb will enjoy the holidays with family before heading to Florida for the 'Roar Before the 24' on Jan 3-5 before the KONI season kicks off with the Fresh From Florida 200 on January 22.

-credit: www.plumbracing.com