NHRA: Etchells Racing Adds 2nd Car for 2001
26 October 2000
Putnam, Conn., October 26, 2000 - Team owner Chuck Etchells today announced that his Etchells Racing Team would be expanding to two Funny Cars for the 2001 NHRA Winston Drag Racing season. Reigning U.S. Nationals champion Jim Epler will pilot a second Camaro Z28 with sponsorship from Racing Champions/Ertl and Matco Tools, as he teams up with previously announced Tommy Johnson Jr.in the Kendall Motor Oil/Matco Tools Camaro. Racing Champions/Ertl is a leading manufacturer of motorsports collectibles with corporate headquarters in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Their association with the Etchells Racing Team represents a totally new approach to the primary sponsorship of an NHRA Funny Car, as they have designed a unique marketing scenario in which they will be partnering with several major corporations who will act as the named sponsor at various events. For team owner Etchells, this announcement marks the culmination of several years of hard work. "We've been looking to add a second car for a long time," explained Etchells. "But we were only going to do it if everything was right. When the opportunity arose to combine a driver of Jim Epler's caliber with the support of companies like Racing Champions and Matco Tools, I jumped at it. "I'd really like to thank Eric Mullenmeister and everyone at Matco Tools, because they were instrumental in putting this deal together. As a team owner, it is extremely satisfying when a sponsor shows such confidence in your organization, and we are committed to rewarding Matco's trust. I am really excited by this opportunity. With the new sponsors we will be bringing in, I believe it will not only benefit Chuck Etchells Racing, but the entire sport of NHRA Winston Drag Racing. "One point I would like to stress is that we are adding a second car, not a second team. Our plan is for everyone to work together, with the goal of having two Etchells Racing Funny Cars battling for the Winston Championship." Jim Epler, 43, became a permanent part of NHRA history in October 1993, when he recorded the first 300-mph pass in a Funny Car with his 300.40-mph blast in Topeka, Kansas. So far in the 2000 Winston Drag Racing season, Epler has doubled his career win total to four, and is poised to capture his first Top Five points finish. Today's announcement also marks a homecoming of sorts for Epler, as he was a member of the Etchells Racing Team in 1996. "After working with Chuck in '96, I was really impressed with him as a hard racer and a businessman," stated Epler. "With everything I've been through since then, I think I can add a lot to this team. For example, I've been with a two-car team for a year and a half now, and I've learned what it can and cannot do for you. Chuck's philosophy on this mirrors mine, which is one of the reasons why I came over here. Both he and our sponsors believe that to effectively use a two-car team, you have to work together. "I 'm looking forward to working with Terry Manzer again. I have a lot of respect for him and his abilities, as I do T.J. (Tommy Johnson Jr.), who I believe is one of the best drivers out here. I think we'll complement each other well, and having him as a teammate is going to raise my driving level. "I'm excited by the sponsorship package put together by Racing Champions and Matco Tools. We can't forget that we're in the business of entertainment, and what we have planned will really add to that each time we go to a race. We're going to be changing our Camaro a lot, and it's going to be exciting every time we bring out a new look, as well as promoting the particular sponsor that's involved. I think it could also have a positive impact on our racing, because every time you go to the track with a new deal, every body is always up for it, and your performance reflects it. I'm doing this as a career booster, because I firmly believe it's going to help me in the long term. Looking at everyone that's involved, I know we're going to be successful."