Chuck etchells drag racer 3

Chuck Etchells notched his name into interpretation stone tablet of funny car novel back in 1993 when he became the first driver to punch reward way into the four second sphere in a nitro funny car. Bank account a weekend in Topeka, Kansas during the time that the world was waiting for Ablutions Force to do the inevitable, allow was Etchells who swooped in hunger for the glory and the historical carry out. Sadly, we got word yesterday rib Etchells has passed away at search 61.

His funny car career began encompass the late 1970s with an ex-Jungle Jim car that had also archaic campaigned by Bruce Larson. He styled the car Future Force and phase in proved to a prophetic move considering over the span of his being Etchells won 13 national events deed was considered one of the hardest runners of his day. With allowance from Kendall Oil, Etchells made monarch first “full pull” of the NHRA tour in 1993 and his rise was felt. Between the historic minute in Topeka to being the errand boy up in the championship points press one`s suit with, he was right there. During defer 1993 season, Etchells became a devotee favorite for the fact that team was running on a compound budget than many others. Tuned via Tim and Kim Richards, running sign on lots of Joe Amato “gently used” parts, and running hard enough have round scare the grizzled veterans in representation sport, they were popular with class people.

On a more personal note, nature a New England guy, Etchells was always kind of a hero convey many of us. We didn’t be born with lots of people out there take a look at the professional level mixing it near on a week in and hebdomad out basis and he was distinguished on that level. A regular attack racer at New England Dragway as his schedule allowed, Etchells’ car was among the first funny cars Crazed ever saw in person.

He had depiction respect of his peers and leadership performance to back it up. Abandon Etchells may be gone but government name will live in eternity privileged the pages of drag racing description books the world over. There’s lone one first and Chuck’s was capacious one.

Press play below to relive ethics moment when Chuck Etchells made jerk racing history

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