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Thursday, August 9
Etchells, Epler met in second round
By Chuck Etchells
Special to ESPN.com
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Well, for the first time in many weeks, I'm going to devote a column completely to the past weekend's racing. Even though we fell just a hair shy of getting our first win of the season, our overall performance at the Fram Autolite Nationals had everyone on the Etchells Racing Team smiling on Sunday night.
As anyone even slightly familiar with the NHRA's Winston Drag Racing Series can attest, the 2001 season has been a difficult one for Etchells Racing. For a variety of reasons that have been well documented in this column, we have struggled to survive both on and off the racetrack. Through it all, we have never wavered from our original game plan, believing that once some of the off-track issues were resolved, the on-track results would return. I think this past weekend shows that things are finally starting to turn around.
Qualifying was its usual challenge. This was our last race at Sears Point Raceway in its current configuration, and I can't say I'm sorry to see it go. Having only 100 feet of concrete at the starting line gives both crew chiefs and drivers fits because it's a very fine line between traction and tire smoke, which is complicated even further in the right lane by a series of unsettling bumps down track.
Although Jim was able to make four decent runs in his NAPA AutoCare Centers Camaro, improving on every pass, it wasn't until the last session on Saturday night that I made a good run in the Sunoco/Matco Camaro, one that guaranteed I'd be racing on Sunday. Still, starting 11th and with Jim coming out of the 14th spot, we knew we would have our hands full with Tommy Johnson Jr. and John Force in the first round. Fortunately, through very different circumstances, we both came out on top.
It's fun anytime the win light comes on in your lane, but it's particularly satisfying when you win a backpedaling duel, because you've done your job as a driver. That really pumps up your crew because they know you're giving your all out there, and that you're just as determined to win as they are.
Fortunately, for the second week in a row, I was able to help our team out. Jim also did his job, welding Force at the line with a great reaction time and holding on for a huge hole-shot win. For the first time this season, both our cars were going to the second round. Although unfortunately we would be racing each other, we also knew that meant one of us would be in the semifinals.
In case anyone was wondering whether there were "team orders" at Etchells Racing, I think our race pretty well answered them. It was a good close match-up with both cars making solid runs. However, Jim took full advantage of having lane choice to record the quickest pass of the round and move on. Although at first I was pissed that his NAPA Camaro beat my Sunoco/Matco Camaro, a simple review of the numbers shows the better car won.
Throughout the weekend, I got down the track without smoking the tires twice in six attempts, while Jim was much more consistent, making it seven of eight times. As I've said many times, consistency is the key, and Jim had it.
Epler's run continued in the semis, where he used another solid 5.0 run to dispatch Tony Pedregon in the second Force car, thereby single-handedly eliminating the Fords, which is always rewarding for those of us wearing those Chevy Bow Ties.
In the final, however, Jim found himself back in the less-preferred right lane, and for the first time all weekend, he smoked the tires, allowing Del Worsham to get the trophy. However, once the initial disappointment wore off, we knew this had been a great weekend.
I'm proud of my guys and the job they did. I'll put our braintrust of Terry Manzer, Larry Meyer, Roland Leong and Dave Hutchens up against anyone, and the crew guys have never stopped giving 200 percent. They questioned the timing when Roland and Dave joined us just before the West Coast Swing, but I knew the pressure of racing three times in three weeks would show us exactly what we had.
We found some problem areas, and we're working to get them resolved, but the progress is self-evident. This weekend was a huge boost to our morale, something that was way overdue. It wasn't a win, but it showed our guys what winning could be like.
Are we all the way back? Hell no. This was an outstanding weekend, but we're still fighting to catch up with guys who have been racing all year with the same crew and a solid budget. However, I honestly believe we have stopped the nosedive and started to pull ourselves back up. We have a good team, and I think we are going to start showing that on a consistent basis in the very near future.
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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