Teammates Etchells & Epler Recall Their
Special Topeka Weekend
(Note: The following is also attached in text format for your convenience.)
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
Phone: (704)
662-3121
Fax: (704)
662-3021
TEAMMATES ETCHELLS & EPLER RECALL THEIR SPECIAL TOPEKA WEEKEND
Putnam, Conn., May 22, 2001 - It seems very fitting that Chuck Etchells and
Jim Epler come to Heartland Park Topeka as teammates during the NHRA's 50th
anniversary season. Eight years ago, these two arrived at the venerable
Kansas speedplant as opponents, relative newcomers to the Winston Drag Racing
Series' Funny Car division. By the time that October weekend was over,
however, both drivers had permanently inscribed their names in drag racing
history. Chuck Etchells and Jim Epler had combined to eclipse the last two
major Funny Car barriers by recording the first four-second elapsed time and
300 mph top speed. As such, their racing careers became irrevocably
intertwined, to the point that for a while after that event, the two were
often confused for each other.
"It's kind of funny, because for almost a year after that Topeka race, people
would come up to me and congratulate me on the 300 mph run," recalls
Etchells. "With both events happening within twenty-four hours of each other
at the same location, Jim and I were permanently joined. So it's a natural
for us to go back this year with me driving the Sunoco/Matco Camaro and Jim
in our second car, the Toys R Us/Matco Camaro."
The events of that weekend remain as clear to Etchells and Epler as they were
eight years ago. For example, as Chuck Etchells recalls, were it not for a
mechanical malfunction, his historic four-second run might have occurred
months earlier in Englishtown, New Jersey.
"I was positive of being able to run in the fours, because we came close in
Englishtown" explained Etchells. "During Friday night qualifying, I had run
a 5.01 with a major blower explosion at 1000 feet, so it was on a four-second
pass. Heading into Topeka, we knew the track was capable of it, but we
weren't sure of the weather.
"Fortunately, the conditions turned out to be perfect. When I went past
half-track, I knew it was happening, because it felt even better than the run
in Englishtown. When I got to the shut-off area at the top end, I knew we
had done it before I even got out of the car just from the look on everyone's
faces."
For Jim Epler, his venture into the 300-mph zone was the culmination of a
tough season. Much like Etchells, Epler knew of his accomplishment before
climbing out of his racecar.
"We had struggled with consistency in 1993, going so far as changing cars and
tune-ups," stated Epler. "Mike Kloeber (Epler's crew chief at the time) had
gotten on a tune-up that wasn't very fast to half-track, but was very
consistent. He then started to toy with larger fuel volumes, and it really
showed some promise. When we got to Topeka, the skies were clear, the air
was seventy degrees with a slight head wind, and we went 299.90 mph on
Friday, which was so much faster than the 293 anyone had done before. It was
such a huge deal that they stopped the race and paraded us down the middle of
the track.
"Even so, we didn't realize how big an accomplishment it would be, and
therefore weren't consumed with going 300. We were more interested with
surviving and winning the round. In fact, I skipped the last qualifying
session and told everyone who would listen that I was waiting to run 300 on
Sunday so it could be on TV. Fortunately, we went 5.16 at 300.40, and
everyone at the top end was going crazy holding up three fingers. It was
quite a memorable time.
"The best part is that it's something they can never take away from us. John
Force may have won ten championships, but everybody will always remember that
in Topeka, Kansas in October of 1993, Jim Epler was the first Funny Car to
go over 300 mph, and Chuck Etchells was the first Funny Car in the fours."
A by-product of this record-setting weekend was the start of a closer
relationship between the two drivers. The friendship produced an initial
business relationship in 1996 when Jim Epler, unable to drive due a
racing-related injury, brought his sponsors to the Etchells Racing Team.
However, it was not until this year that the two became teammates when
Etchells expanded his organization to include a second car, and both
Etchells' and Epler's focus coming into this year's Advance Auto Parts
Nationals remains squarely on turning around what has been a most trying 2001
campaign.
"I realize what Jim and I did in 1993 was very special, and is something
we'll always be remembered for, which is kind of neat," said Etchells. "But
that was eight years ago, and a lot has happened since then, with many highs
and lows. This year, we've already experienced the deepest low of my career
with our sponsorship problems, as well as one of the biggest highs since that
day in Topeka with Sunoco coming on board at the last minute a month ago when
it looked like we were out for the count.
"Ironically, it would almost mean more to this team to do well this weekend
than it did back then. We have recently announced a new primary sponsor with
Sunoco on my car, and Jim will once again be carrying Geoffrey the 300-mph
Toys R Us giraffe, and we would love to reward them, as well as all our
sponsors with a strong effort here in Topeka."
For his part, Jim Epler would like to complete his Topeka resume by including
a national event win, much like his teammate did in 1993.
"Although I will always remember the events of our weekend in Topeka from
1993," detailed Epler, "We still need to get a win there. Hopefully we can
get both Etchells Camaros in the final and battle it out amongst ourselves.
If we can do that, I think it will make our Heartland Park Topeka memories
even more special."
Etchells Excerpts: This weekend will be Chuck Etchells' 14th appearance at
the Heartland Park Topeka, where he hopes to duplicate his winning finish
from 1993…Chuck will be looking to repeat his No. 1 qualifying performances
from this event in 1993 & 1995…. Chuck has never qualified lower than 8th in
Topeka, with an average starting position of 3.76…Chuck has only lost in the
first round in Topeka twice, with one win and five semi-final
finishes…Chuck's last appearance in Topeka came in 1998, when he qualified
2nd and advanced to the semi-finals.
Epler Extras: This weekend will be Jim Epler's 11th appearance in Topeka,
where he looks to improve upon his semi-final finish here from 1993…Jim will
be looking to better his previous best qualifying performance of 3rd from
1995…One year ago, Jim qualified 9th and advanced to the second round.
Fast Facts
WHAT: 13th annual Advance Auto Parts Nationals, the ninth event on the
23-race 2001 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Schedule.
WHEN: May 24 - 27, 2001
WHERE: Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, Kansas
SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying begins with two rounds on Friday, May 25
at 5:30 & 8:30 p.m., and concludes with two sessions at 1:00 & 4:00 p.m. on
Saturday, May 26. Final eliminations begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 20.
TV: There will be ninety minutes of qualifying highlights from Topeka on
ESPN2 from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 26. On Sunday, May 27, there
will two and a half hours of final elimination coverage from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.
on ESPN (Times given are Eastern. As always, please check your local
listings.)
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