| ESPN Network: ESPN.com | RPM | NBA.com | NHL.com | ESPNdeportes | ABCSports | WNBA.com | FANTASY | |
|
|
|
| |
 |
  |
 |
 Start your engines! Play RPM.ESPN Stock Car Challenge! Win a Honda S2000! Play The CART Challenge powered by Honda! |
Friday, July 27  Changes in store for future By Chuck Etchells Special to ESPN.com This weekend we head to the Pacific Northwest and Seattle International Raceway for the Prolong Super Lubricants Northwest Nationals. It's the second race of our "West Coast" swing, and the differences between these first two events are remarkable. Last week in Denver, we were struggling to make horsepower in the thin Rocky Mountain air. With the Seattle track located near sea level and in the midst of a forest, power will not be a problem. Traction, however, is a completely different story. Nestled among the trees in Kent, Wash., which is near the base of Mount Rainier, SIR is arguably of one the most picturesque locations on the NHRA circuit. In addition, the fans in Washington are some of the best in the country, packing the stands every time we come to town. Unfortunately, the facility falls well short of the standard set by other tracks, lacking such simple amenities as permanent bathrooms or a fully paved pit area. However, it is the racing surface itself that draws the most criticism. Simply put, if a racetrack with plenty of traction is said to "have teeth", then Seattle International Raceway is in serious need of some dentures. As if that weren't enough, every pass is an adventure with drivers forced to deal with bumps and other obstacles. But do not despair, Seattle racing fans, all is not lost. The owners of the property will be reassuming control at the end of the year and have already promised to do whatever is necessary to make the track one of our showpiece facilities. The NHRA has rewarded this commitment by including the Northwest Nationals on the recently announced 2002 schedule. Fortunately, both sides realize that not only does our sport need to be in Seattle, but it also cannot afford to race at second-rate drag strips. Hopefully, next year's race will be held at a track worthy of the area it represents. However, we still have the challenge of this year's race to run, and our team is lucky to have a braintrust that includes Terry Manzer, Roland Leong, Larry Meyer and Dave Hutchens. You may remember that a year ago Terry tuned our car to the top spot in qualifying with a track record run that was a tenth of a second quicker than second place. That's just the tip of his success at SIR. Winning in Washington has also not been a problem for Roland, and with the help of Larry and Dave, I believe we're in good shape. I know it's a cliche you hear in every driver's interview, but this crew has been busting its butt trying to get this program turned around. With everything I've seen in the last few weeks, I think our team is finally about to break through with some strong performances, the type you normally expect from Etchells Racing. When we do, I think I will happier for the crew and our sponsors than I will be for myself. A lot of our crew guys are young and inexperienced, and this year has been one massive learning curve. With the long hours they've put in, it will be nice for them to get a taste of what winning is like. We're also lucky to have a group of tremendous sponsors that have hung with us during these difficult times, and I'd like nothing more than to reward them with a winning performance. I know we're close, but I have never been a patient person. I make no secret of the fact that I'm in this to win, and until we do, I won't be happy. Check back next week to see what kind of mood I'm in. 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
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
Copyright ©2001 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Click here for a list of employment opportunities at ESPN.com. |
