Aeromotive Anniversary: 25 Years and Counting
This is a big year for Aeromotive, as well as its founder—former aerospace engineer and current Pro Mod drag racer Steve Matusek. That’s because, 2019 marks a milestone Aeromotive anniversary. Twenty-five years to be exact, and the company is celebrating the only way it knows how: continuing to strive for better-than-best.
Inheriting the racing bug from his father, Matusek gave up his steady and secure 9-5 to chase a much more exciting dream—building a business around competitive racing. So, it was back to school for an MBA and then onto a thrilling and fulfilling career blending complex science with the simple desire to go fast.
With brains, talent, and a whole lotta chutzpah, Matusek founded Aeromotive in 1994. And, as they say, the rest is pretty much history. A quarter century later, he’s learned more, accomplished more, and likely developed a little more fearlessness, thanks to his success in NHRA Pro Mod Racing and building an enthusiast’s pipe-dream into a multi-million-dollar company with a sterling reputation.
Product With Purpose
Renowned for its top-notch fuel delivery products, Aeromotive produces a diverse line of fuel pumps, fuel tanks, regulators, complete fuel systems, and plumbing solutions. Essentially anything you could need to run fuel to an engine, Aeromotive has it.
In fact, we covered one of these seriously clever products here on the blog already: the new Apex Phantom. Debuted at SEMA 2018, the Apex solves the simple problem of continuous fuel delivery with ingenious engineering.
And really, that’s what this Aeromotive anniversary is about. Sure, 25 years of business is a benchmark for anybody. But two and a half decades of bringing high-quality useful products to market—products that solve real problems, for real people? Well, that’s something worth celebrating.
At Aeromotive, theories emerge behind the wheel, not behind a desk.
At the company’s Kansas headquarters, actual enthusiasts who spend actual time at the track aren’t developing products they think people might want. They’re working out solutions that fellow enthusiasts need.
“You will never see us do a ‘ME TOO’ product,” says the company. “Every product we develop offers some feature or benefit left off the table by our competition. And rest assured, every product that leaves our facility has been tested to the strictest standards and guaranteed by Aeromotive for integrity and reliability.”
Aeromotive Anniversary Celebrations
To celebrate this special Aeromotive anniversary, the company has a few fun things in the works.
Through some exciting new partnerships made during the off-season, Matusek is sporting Garrett Advancing Motion turbochargers on his Pro Mod Mustang, driving for Elite Motorsports in the 2019 season. Showcasing this enthusiasm—and Aeromotive’s past 25 years of success—is a sweet new wrap for the ‘Stang, blending old school nostalgia with a modern design.
Speaking to Dragzine.com, Matusek said the goal was to create a look that, “represented our company with the precision in which we do things.”
“It turned out exactly the way we wanted it to,” Matusek told the publication. “I love nostalgia and I love history, but just like our company, you have to look forward. The past is great and it’s something that helps mold the future, but at the same time, we don’t look backwards, we look forward.”
The proud Aeromotive anniversary vehicle made its debut at the recent 50th Annual NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. And while he just missed out on the qualifying field, Matusek still had plenty to celebrate, finishing with a run of 5.761 at 258.81 mph that landed him the No. 17 spot.
“Of course, we’d have loved to qualify No. 1 and win the whole deal, which we actually did feel was a possibility,” Matusek told Drag Illustrated Magazine. “But we’re all excited about the progress we’ve made in a short amount of time and where we’re headed.”
They’re headed for Houston, for the NHRA Spring Nationals on April 12, where the temperatures are hotter… and so is the competition.
However, Matusek is optimistic, keeping his eyes ever-forward, and having a blast in the process.
“It’s surreal,” Matusek told Dragzine.com. “I can’t believe we’ve been in business for 25 years. So, being able to still compete at this level with the team we’ve assembled is special. To get to this point and be able to team up with companies like Modern Racing and Shane T and Elite Motorsports and Garrett (Advancing Motion), 25 years ago, who would have ever thought this was possible?”
Are you interested in celebrating Aeromotive’s 25th Anniversary, too? If so, the company will be hosting a special Open House and Car Show on the manufacturer’s official birthday, August 1st. With good food, good music, sweet rides, and fundraising for Parenting Children with Special Needs, it’ll be a family-friendly event for the books.
