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Thursday, June 28
Epler's efforts above and beyond
By Chuck Etchells
Special to ESPN.com
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Last week I told you about my crew, the guys who work on our race cars. Today, I'd like to tell about my teammate, Jim Epler. I had always said I wouldn't add a second car unless I found the right person to put in the driver's seat. Quite honestly, I couldn't have done better than Epler.
Jim and I have been competitors for years, but our friendship never really started until that very special weekend in Topeka eight years ago when I made the first four-second run and he was the first Funny Car over 300 mph. From that point on, we were forever joined to the point people often confused us for each other, and we became close friends.
Those of you who follow the sport may remember Jim and I worked together in 1996, when he was still recovering from the injuries he sustained in Dallas the year before. In order to maintain his relationship with his sponsor, Rug Doctor, Jim brought them to our team, and he joined us as a consultant. Over the course of the year, we realized we shared a passion for our sport, as well as an untiring work ethic.
Jim is unlike any other hired driver in the pit area. For the most part, these "hired guns" will come to the track, sign autographs, socialize with the sponsors, and drive the race car. Some may do other tasks, such as packing the parachutes. During the week away from the track, they are free to do as they please, with the exception of a few personal appearances and interviews. Normally, that is all that is expected of them, and I see nothing wrong with it.
However, Jim does all that and much more, taking the position to a completely different level. For example, this year he has taken complete responsibility for the myriad of paint schemes we have and will be running on his Racing Champions/Matco Tools Camaro, as well as getting both my transporter and car switched over to the Sunoco colors back in May.
Jim has coordinated every aspect of getting each car painted, starting with the guy who mounts the body all the way to the paint shop, as well as handling all the transportation arrangements. He has even gone so far as to carry the body in the trailer behind his motorhome, as he did to ensure the Rug Doctor scheme we are currently using was done in time.
Once the body is at the track, he works closely with John Chindemi from Magical Markers, Inc. (another hard-working and valued individual) to make sure all the decals are taken care of. Needless to say, it's a burden he has taken off my shoulders.
But Jim's participation goes well beyond that into areas of even greater importance. He is always out there trying to find new associate sponsors for our teams and trying to find ways to build business-to-business relationships.
We are fortunate to have the support of some very strong corporations, and as he talks to other companies around the country, Jim is always looking for things they might have that could be mutually beneficial to both the new company and our current sponsors. It's a never-ending process, and additional evidence of how much of an asset he is to the Etchells Racing organization.
By the way, those of you in the Cleveland area are invited to come out to watch Jim and I match race at Norwalk Raceway this weekend. Match races are one drag racing's oldest traditions, and it's where most of us cut our teeth.
In the years before I joined the NHRA Winston Drag Racing circuit on a full-time basis, I survived on the number of match races I would run. We're supposed to have an all-star cast, including my buddy John Force, Del Worsham, Frank and Tony Pedregon, Dale Creasy and some TV announcer named Cruz. If you haven't been to a drag race before before, I urge you to attend this one, because this promises to be a really good time.
Chuck Etchells, driver and owner the Sunoco/Matco Tools Camaro Z28 Funny Car, provides a diary to ESPN.com throughout the NHRA season. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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