NHRA: Jim Epler Aims to Dress for Success In Pomona
31 January 2001
Putnam, Conn., January 31, 2001 - This weekend, the National Hot Rod Association will open its 50th anniversary season with the AutoZone Winternationals at Pomona Raceway. Jim Epler will mark this momentous occasion by sporting a rather prominent red bowtie throughout the event. But the fashion police need not be concerned about Mr. Epler's appearance, as in actuality it will be his Racing Champions/Matco Tools Camaro Z28 Funny Car that will feature a large Chevrolet logo on its hood. Although this is the first of several paint schemes Epler will carry throughout the 2001 Winston Drag Racing season, he acknowledges the significance of being the most visible representative for the Bowtie Brigade in California. "There's a lot of responsibility in carrying the Chevrolet name in such a prominent position," stated Epler. "Being a Camaro owner myself, I've gotten to meet a lot of people from the Camaro Club, as well as everyone from General Motors. They're proud of their hot rods, and I know they're going to be cheering for us. Overall, there are some substantial bragging rights at stake, and we'd like nothing more than to bring home a win. "Our performance is also significant to the business side of our Racing Champions/Matco Tools team. The better we do, the more die-cast are going to sell, which is critical to how our program is structured. We will only run two races with this paint scheme, so we need to do well right out of the box." Pomona Raceway holds very special memories for Jim Epler, as it was the site of his first NHRA national event win in 1992. As a newcomer to the Nitro Funny Car ranks, Epler shocked the drag racing world when, in only his fifth race, he qualified fourth and defeated a line-up that included John Force and Al Hofmann en route to the winner's circle. "I had run enough races in '91 to figure out what I needed," recounted Epler. "So I went out and got myself a really good crew chief in Mike Kloeber. We had tested with all his changes in the car and were confident of being competitive going into that first race. At the time, I hadn't raced enough to know how difficult it was to win in Funny Car, so I went out there expecting to do it, and we did. It didn't seem to be as big a deal back then as it is now looking back and seeing people who have raced for twenty years and never had the good fortune of winning." Nine years later, Epler not only recognizes the magnitude of his accomplishment, but also the tremendous challenge facing he and his teammate Chuck Etchells as they vie for the title at this weekend's race, where doing well is paramount to a successful season. "I really don't look back as much as I am focused on what's it's going to take to win in today's environment," explained Epler. "What was really exciting in 1992 was to leave Pomona with the points lead, which we held for three races. Winning the Winternationals really helps in the points chase for the rest of the year. The key is not only to get off to a good start, but to make sure John Force does not, because that makes things difficult for all of us." One element Epler sees in his favor is his association with Etchells. This newly-formed two-car effort will make its official debut in California, and following his experience with the Etchells crew in testing, Epler is confident they can reach their goal in Pomona. "Since the team had to work out of one trailer in Tucson, they had to become very efficient," said Epler. "They should work even better now that we will be using two transporters. What's important is that our Camaros are identical, so we can make adjustments on one car based on what happened when the team car ran before it, and feel confident that the change is going to work. That information will be critical to doing well in Pomona or wherever we race. If everything works out right, and the Racing Champions/Matco Tools Camaro is fortunate enough to come out on top in Pomona, this Winternationals win would be even sweeter." Epler Exclusives: Die-cast replicas the Racing Champions/Matco Tools Camaro Z28 Funny Car that Jim Epler will be racing this weekend will be available this spring through local Chevrolet dealers and Matco Tools distributors….This will be Jim Epler's 17th appearance at the Pomona Raceway, and 9th at the Winternationals …One year ago, Jim qualified 5th for the Winternationals, but was upset in the first round… Jim's previous best qualifying performance at this season-opening event came in 1992 & 1993, when he was 4th, and he will be looking to duplicate upon his winning Winternationals finish from 1992… Overall, Jim has (2) two wins at this facility. Fast Facts WHAT: 41st Annual AutoZone Winternationals, the first event on the 23-race 2001 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Schedule. WHEN: February 1-4, 2001 WHERE: Pomona Raceway, Pomona, California SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying begins with single sessions on Thursday, February 1 and Friday, February 2 at 3:00 p.m., and concludes with two additional attempts at 1:00 & 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 3. Final eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 4. TV: There will be three shows originating from Pomona, starting with 2 hours of qualifying highlights on ESPN2 from 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 3. On Sunday, February 4, coverage of eliminations will start on ESPN with a one-hour broadcast of early elimination rounds highlights from 8-9 p.m. and will conclude on ESPN2 with one hour of highlights from the semi-final and final rounds from 11:00 p.m. - midnight. (Times given are Eastern. As always, please check your local listings.)