Sun, 12 Nov 2000, 01:26 PM Etchells Racing's Expanded Effort to include Larry Meyer

Courtesy of Jon Knapp

POMONA, Calif. -- Team owner Chuck Etchells today announced that noted crew chief Larry Meyer would be joining the Etchells Racing Team starting with the 2001 NHRA Winston Drag Racing season. Meyer will join the team in the newly created position of Research and Development Technical Engineer, encompassing both Tommy Johnson Jr.'s Kendall Motor Oil/Matco Tools Camaro and Jim Epler's Racing Champions/Matco Tools Camaro.

"I've said all along that we weren't going to make the move to a second car without doing it right," explained Etchells. "I believe hiring Larry is a major step in that direction. There are many teams out here with two cars. Each has a crew chief assigned to tuning each one, but neither one has time to develop and implement new technology. That's where we see Larry coming in. Instead of babysitting one car, Larry will use his knowledge and expertise, working with both Etchells Racing Camaros to help maximize their performance on race weekends."

Meyer has been a fixture in the NHRA pit area for thirty-eight years. Although he has worked with several notable teams and drivers including Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen, Brad Anderson and Lori Johns, he is best known as the only crew chief other than Austin Coil to have won a Winston Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship in the last eleven years, having tuned Cruz Pedregon to the title in 1992. He sees his new assignment at Etchells Racing as an exciting opportunity, and is looking forward to getting started on next season.

"Our team concept for next year is to have one organization that is both strong and ambitious," stated Meyer. "We are going to work together as one, with each car able to help each other. I'd like to thank Chuck and everyone at Etchells Racing for the opportunity, and am ready to reward their confidence in me by contributing to their success."

Current Etchells Racing top wrench Terry Manzer also recognizes the importance of this latest addition to the roster, and sees great potential in what Meyer's strong engineering background will do for the team's future development.

"Obviously, I'm excited to have someone of Larry Meyer's stature join the team," stated Manzer. "We are very similar in both our thinking and analytical approach to things. I also believe his engineering talent has not been fully utilized to this point, and I'm looking forward to having him on our side. It's going to be a real plus for Etchells Racing to have him on board to work with us as well as the manufacturers to develop the new technology we need to succeed."



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