Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Funny Car’s Epler: Taking week off right thing to do

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001 | 9:52 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

After a two-week layoff, the NHRA Winston Drag Racing season will resume this weekend with the AutoZone Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park, but Funny Car driver Jim Epler acknowledged it would be tough returning to work.

"There's no doubt that racing this weekend will be different," Epler said. "With everything that's happened, our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with those lost in this tragedy, as well as their families.

"But as President Bush has said, it is time for America to get back to work, and I believe that sporting events such as ours can play a part in the healing process."

The NHRA was the first motor sports sanctioning body to call off a race last weekend, announcing its decision to postpone the Keystone Nationals in Reading, Pa., only hours after last Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. The Keystone Nationals were rescheduled for the weekend of Oct. 4-7.

"I believe the NHRA did the right thing by postponing the race as quickly as they did," Epler said. "I know it wasn't easy, but in reality, sporting events such as ours are inconsequential when compared to what was happening in our country.

"With the events in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania weighing so heavily on our minds, the last thing we were thinking about was racing."

Epler will be running a special paint scheme on his Etchells Racing Funny Car this weekend after announcing a special two-race deal with Bass Pro Shops. Epler spent last week supervising the new graphics on the car -- but refused to give his final approval until one final decal was added.

"I made sure before the body left our decal man's shop that we put the American flag on our Bass Pro Shops Camaro in a prominent location," Epler said. "We want the message to be sent loud and clear that, as Americans, we are all in this fight together, and that we stand behind our president and our country."

On Wednesday, the NHRA revealed its top 10 drivers of all time -- and will reveal their ranking in a weekly countdown beginning Friday and concluding at the NHRA Finals in November in Pomona, Calif.

In alphabetical order, the top 10 drivers are: Joe Amato, Dale Armstrong, Kenny Bernstein, John Force, Don Garlits, Bob Glidden, Bill Jenkins, Warren Johnson, Shirley Muldowney and Don Prudhomme.

The Pro Mod exhibitions will feature eight-car fields as set during four qualifying sessions (two Friday and two Saturday). Sunday's final eliminations will feature three rounds to determine a winner.

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