Start your engines!
Play RPM.ESPN Stock Car Challenge!
Win a Honda S2000!
Play The CART Challenge powered by Honda!
|
|
Thursday, August 2
Much-deserved weekend off looms
By Chuck Etchells
Special to ESPN.com
| |  | | | Etchells |
This week finds us heading to the beautiful Sonoma Valley for the Fram Autolite Nationals. It is one race every competitor looks forward to for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost, it is the third and final leg of the West Coast Swing we talked about in the column a few weeks back. After three races in three weekends at vastly different (and separated) locations, these crews will be ready for a much-deserved weekend away from the rigors of competition.
However, we also look forward to racing here because of the location. Nestled in some rolling hills among the vineyards north of San Francisco, Sears Point Raceway is like the scene on a postcard -- that is, if you were to have a postcard of a track! As our busy schedules allow, we try to set aside time to enjoy a trip to the wineries or to visit Fisherman's Wharf. It's a good way to take your mind off the pressures of competition.
But sooner or later, we will have to get back to work and focus on this weekend's race. Fortunately, Sears Point is one of the facilities owned by Bruton Smith, so we know the event will be well run. Bruton has been a true supporter of NHRA Winston Drag Racing over the last few years, building two of our sport's crown jewels, The Strip at Las Vegas and Bristol Dragway.
Sears Point was built as a multi-purpose facility with everything from sports and stock cars sharing the same track with the drag racers. However, big plans were unveiled a year ago for renovations that will benefit every series and fan that comes to Sonoma.
When we return a year from now, the dragstrip is scheduled to be a separate entity, no longer sharing a straightaway with the road racers. The amenities for both the teams and fans are supposed to receive a major overhaul, which is part of the makeover the entire facility is undergoing as part of a three- to five-year plan. As you can imagine, we're all looking forward to returning next year, but right now, doing well at this race is at the top of the list.
Naturally, that would also make winning this year's race a little extra special, because even though the name will be the same, whoever takes home this year's trophy will be the last to ever win on "the old track." Of course, Etchells Racing is no stranger to the Sonoma winner's circle, as we "swept" this event (being No. 1 qualifier, winning the race and setting both ends of the track record) with Whit Bazemore driving back in 1999 to go along with my runner-up performance in 1994.
But I guarantee there is no one on this team who would enjoy a win in Sonoma more than Terry Manzer. Terry grew up right across the bay in Pleasant Hill, and considers this his "home" track. I'm sure he will have his hands full with friends and relatives stopping by all weekend to wish him well, and he'd like nothing more than to win in front of them.
There's another reason why any of us in the Etchells "brain trust" would appreciate a win and that's the effect it would have on the crew. As many of you know, we have a fairly young and inexperienced bunch this year, and most of them don't know how good it feels when you do win. For our veterans, it would be added validation for all the work and teaching they've done.
Sure, you can see how other teams look when they get the trophy, but you can never know what's it's like until you're the one in the winner's circle. It's really the best reward for the long hours they spend working on the car or running down the road to get to the next race. They're a good bunch, and they deserve it. Hopefully one of these days we can make it happen.
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
|
|
|
|
