Etchells aims to carry on the Winning Tradition of the Sunoco Camaro

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                                                    Contact: Jon G. Knapp
                                                                       Phone: 
(704) 662-3121
                                                                   Fax: (704) 
662-3021


ETCHELLS AIMS TO CARRY ON THE WINNING TRADITION OF THE SUNOCO CAMARO

Putnam, Conn., May 14, 2001 - When Chuck Etchells rolls his racecar to the 
line for the first qualifying session of this weekend's Matco Tools 
Supernationals, it will mark the third chapter in one of the most 
recognizable and successful marriages in American motorsports - that of 
gasoline & convenience store leader Sunoco with Chevrolet's muscular sports 
coupe, the Camaro Z28.  Unlike previous versions, however, which campaigned 
in the Trans-Am series with legendary driver Mark Donohue in the late 60's 
and Ron Fellows in the 90's, Etchells' Sunoco/Matco Tools Camaro shall do 
battle in the NHRA's Winston Drag Racing Series Funny Car division.  Despite 
the differences, Chuck Etchells is fully aware of the history and is ready to 
carry on the tradition.

"Growing up in the 60's, Sunoco was known for two things - Sunoco 260 
high-performance gasoline and Mark Donohue's Trans-Am Camaro," explained 
Etchells.  'Well, almost forty years later, Sunoco Ultra 94 is the leader in 
its field, and it's up to us to follow in some pretty big footsteps with our 
Funny Car."

As can be imagined, the latest edition of this storied racecar bears little 
resemblance to its predecessors.  Mark Donohue's Penske Camaro, for example, 
rolled off the GM assembly line and was highly modified for competition.  The 
Etchells Camaro, meanwhile, was built with the sole purpose of rocketing down 
the quarter-mile, from its carbon-fiber shell to its tube frame chassis.  
Although each depends on a V-8 engine for power, the 450 horses generated by 
the thirty-five year-old naturally aspirated 302 cubic inch bullet in the 
Trans-Am Camaro are no match for 6,000+ produced by the 500 cubic-inch, 
supercharged powerplant in the Etchells "fuel coupe".  While both vehicles 
use Sunoco fuel, the road racer filled its 22-gallon tank with Sunoco 260 
gasoline, while the straight-liner will burn 15 gallons of a mixture of 90% 
Sunoco nitromethane and alcohol on each pass.  

However, the one area in which Chuck Etchells hopes his racecar will emulate 
that of previous Sunoco Camaros is their on-track performance. In their three 
years together, Mark Donohue and his familiar blue-and yellow #6 Camaro 
dominated the Trans-Am series, winning 19 races and two championships, with 
his teammate Ronnie Bucknum tallying two victories of his own.  During his 
one-year stint in the late 90's, Ron Fellows added another four wins, 
bringing the total to twenty-five, a mark Chuck Etchells looks to add to in 
the near future.

"I hope that we can be as successful as the previous Sunoco Camaros," stated 
Etchells.  "Sunoco has a great history in motorsports, and although their 
presence has not been as strong in the last few years, we'd like to help them 
return to a position of prominence.  The name Sunoco is synonymous with 
performance and that is how we want to represent them."  

Chuck Etchells is also mindful of preserving another Sunoco racing legacy, 
one that had its origins in drag racing.  For many years, Dave Schultz was 
the Mark Donohue of the NHRA's Pro Stock Bike category.   During his 
fourteen-year career, "Sunoco Dave" rewrote the record books with 45 wins and 
six championship, with arguably his most dramatic victory coming last October 
in Houston, Texas when Schultz rebounded after chemotherapy treatments to 
reach the winner's circle for what would proved to be the final time.  
Although Schultz passed away in February, his presence is still felt 
throughout the pits, and Etchells is determined to carry on his tradition of 
excellence.

"Dave was sponsored for many years by Sunoco Race Fuels, and was one of the 
all-time greatest racers," said Etchells.  "Dave was also a great spokesman, 
not only for his sponsors, but for NHRA Winston Drag Racing, and he is 
someone we would certainly love to someday be compared to.  When my racing 
career is over, I would be honored to be mentioned in the same breath as Dave 
Schultz.

"The bottom line is that the blueprint has been set before us by some 
outstanding competitors.  We know it will take a combination of hard work, 
desire, ability and a little luck, but this Etchells Racing Team is 
determined to make sure our Sunoco/Matco Camaro lives up to the legacy of 
those that have raced before us."
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