Sterling Engines has an extensive history of successfully powering raceboats in the Key West Offshore World Championships, which begin—at least as racing goes—with next Wednesday’s contest. The company’s products have for years been the engines of choice for the likes of M CON Offshore Racing, WHM Motorsports and other top-tier teams during regular- and post-season competition.
That legacy continues next week, but this time around Cade Wilson is at the head of the Milford, Mich., engine outfit. Wilson purchased the engine side of the business from founder Mike D’Anniballe last May, and he has been remarking the company his way ever since.
So for Wilson, the upcoming event will be his first Key West Worlds as the owner of the brand.
With the Super V class standing at a season-high five registered and two more reportedly coming—an interesting state of affairs given that the first green flags fly one week from tomorrow—Sterling Engines finds itself in an enviable position. Both the proven Knucklehead Racing team and the new DSK team of Timothy Linden and Michael Howe (yeah, that Michael Howe) are running spec-class 572-cubic-inch engines from Sterling.
And though the Super Cat ranks aren’t as well populated as they used to be, this year’s six-team fleet coming to Key West includes Rollin Transport, which is equipped with Sterling engines.
“There may be other teams, too, but they haven’t reached out to me,” Wilson.
Regardless, three teams coming to Key West next week are running Sterling power. The company’s offshore racing heritage continues under its new regime.